Pictures: It's been a blooming good year for wildflowers in Dorchester

Outdoor services manager for the town council Carl Dallison says that trial wildflower areas at Fordington Cemetery are growing well.

“Several sections of prominent wildflowers have not been cut so far this year.. Temporary information notices will be put up in the cemetery advising users of the projects aim and ambitions,” said Mr Dallison in a report to town councillors.

“If this is well received this year then the scheme will become permanent with more information provided on site by the planned target date of February 2020.”

Other wildflower areas looked after the town council outdoor team include the banks at Maumbury Rings which have just been cut to coincide with the preparation for use of the site for the Moonbury event this weekend.

There have also been other wildflower successes elsewhere in the town, including the cemetery at Poundbury.

In line with the council’s biodiversity plan and switch to more sustainable equipment Mr Dallison also reports that a second electric powered vehicle has been ordered to replace a diesel-powered pick-up vehicle used for collecting litter and emptying bins across the town as well as the cutting of vacant allotments and hedges.

It is hoped that solar panels on the council depot roof in St George’s Road linked to batteries will provide enough storage capacity for the charging of both electric vehicles and gardening equipment such as hedge trimmers and brush cutters.

Existing fossil fuel powered equipment will continue to be replaced by the town council at end of life by battery powered alternatives.

Pics – Wildflower areas at Fordington cemetery