Mount Wise awarded County Wildlife Site status

One of the city’s parks has been awarded County Wildlife Site status, bringing the city’s tally to 24.

Mount Wise in Devonport, which has commanding views of the Tamar, is the latest area of land to be formally designated a ‘County Wildlife Site’, thanks to its combination of wildflower meadow and limestone grassland.

The site has been formally recognised by a panel of wildlife experts from the Devon Biodiversity Record Centre who have also highlighted the presence of six Devon ‘notable’ species as a key factor in the designation. The species are round leaved crane’s-bill, autumn ladies tresses, knotted hedge parsley, ivy broomrape, cowslip and hoary plantain.

Brian Vincent, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “It’s wonderful to think that a city of this size now has 24 county wildlife sites. Plymouth prides itself on being a green city and this is great to think another area now enjoys some form of protection.

“Mount Wise not only has terrific views and an amazing history, even the ground beneath people’s feet is special.

“People think the work of our planning department is all about buildings, but they play a key role in making sure our green spaces are protected for generations to come and valued through the work of the newly-formed Green Infrastructure Team.”

The site is managed by the Council’s Street Scene Services who have changed the grass-cutting regime to allow the species to grow naturally. More competitive species such as brambles and tufted grass have been cleared.

There is no recognition of these sites in law but planning policy has regard to these sites.

April is the best time to visit the area if people want to look for cowslip, while Autumn Ladies Tresses can be found in... August.

For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/mountwisecws