THE Vale council is taking steps to create large wildflower areas on land along Marine Drive in Barry.

Part of a wider policy to promote greater biodiversity in parks and open spaces in the County, the move should provide better conditions for pollinating insects and be more conducive to other wildlife.

The scheme involves altering the management of grassland areas on two sections of Marine Drive.

Phase one, known as Western wildflowers and wilder areas, will see a grassland of approximately 23,500 m2 neighbouring Cliff Wood on the western side of Marine Drive left to grow naturally and cut on only one occasion in the autumn.

Part of this area will be over-sown with seed to create an attractive section of wildflowers, with close-mown paths included so people can enjoy the scenery.

As part of the second phase, the Birchgrove wildflower and woodland extension, a grass area of around 19,000 m2 towards the other end of Marine Drive will also be allowed to grow and cut only once in autumn.

Paths will again be cut here for people to enjoy the environment, while there are also plans to increase tree cover on the eastern side of the site, extending the tree line from Birchgrove Woods along to Bull Cliff bank.

This will help to greatly increase the biodiversity of the area, improving conditions for plants, pollinators and birds, while also creating a corridor for wildlife that could potentially stretch all the way from Porthkerry Park to Romilly Park.

A Vale council spokesman said: “We have lost a lot of tree cover in the town over the past couple of decades and, although we have continued to plant trees in our parks and gardens, we have a long way to go to make up the shortfall.

“This scheme should create a large area where wildlife can thrive, making it more biodiverse and somewhere everyone can enjoy.”