Lewisham's Urban Meadows

I’m all for journalistic cynicism (it’s in the job description after all) but I do think this piece goes too far.

The story is simple: Lewisham Council has decided to stop mowing certain parts of its parks, because urban meadows are a useful environmental feature. Good call, in my book. The News Shopper disagrees, casting it as a cynical disguise for a cost-cutting exercise.

As a keen gardener who also cares about our environment and wildlife, I’m well aware that even small areas of urban meadow can be of huge beneft to wildlife and our ecosystem generally. To do so on a large scale in an urban environment is great news. Oh, and the local kids will get a little taste of what nature really looks like, rather than the organised, managed example of it that makes up so much of our urban green spaces.

Sorry, Toby Nation. I just don’t think you’ve done your research on this one. For once, I’m backing Mr Brown on this one. Good for you, sir.