A council in The Netherlands needs residents to cease raking fallen autumn leaves to assist wildlife. Eindhoven council in North Brabant is urging individuals to put down their rakes and leaf blowers to assist creepy crawlies over the winter.
Martijn van Gessel, a spokesperson for the council, advised The Guardian the city corridor needed to vary views of how parks and gardens ought to look.
He stated: “For a very long time individuals had been satisfied the grass at all times needed to be mowed, the leaves needed to be collected, and every part needed to look tidy. However in parks, we should always let the leaves lie.”
Raymond van de Sande, a supervisor at landscaping firm Ergon, advised the identical publication: “You let pure processes take their course and also you see that there are benefits not simply within the areas of ecology and biodiversity but in addition with fewer weeds, and fewer want for water in the summertime.
“When it rains, there’s much less runoff to the drains. It creates a complete strategy of enhancements.”
Emma Gayler, Problem 2025 ambassador and advertising supervisor at EGO, advised Categorical.co.uk: “With out taking a look at all contributors to air and noise air pollution, you possibly can solely resolve a part of the issue.
“Rightly, there’s a focus from authorities on lowering emissions from our vehicles and houses nevertheless seemingly little to no thought is given to the harm being attributable to different means, like backyard energy instruments.”
The strain group revealed a report final yr on public attitudes to petrol-powered backyard instruments. It confirmed lower than 30 % knew the instruments had an enormous environmental impression.
Problem 2025 examined the emissions of fashionable gardening instruments and located petrol-powered leaf blowers emit 11 occasions extra carbon monoxide than a Ford Fiesta automotive – and wish as a lot as half the automotive’s gasoline tank capability to function.
Ms Gayler stated: “This clearly demonstrates why far more is required to teach customers on the hurt they’re doing to the surroundings, but in addition doubtlessly their very own well being.”
Angela Slater, gardening knowledgeable at Hayes Backyard World, has stated raking leaves up from a garden stops naked patches forming.
She stated: “If the garden is moist and waterlogged ensure you keep away from strolling over it as this may trigger compaction and result in even higher issues.
“A wholesome garden wants a very good even distribution of air pockets to permit the grass to thrive and if the soil is compacted the grass can’t develop and you can be left with soil like concrete and naked patches.
“Rake up leaves as quickly as they accumulate on the garden as they block the sunshine if left, which may result in naked patches.”
She added leaf-mould may be made by placing the leaves in a black plastic bin bag, squeezing out the air, piercing the underside of the bag and leaving it in a nook for six months.
Ms Slater stated: “After you need to use it on herbaceous borders as a mulch and soil improver.
“In the event you don’t need to make leaf-mould simply pile them in an out of the way in which nook the place they may present a habitat for bugs and they’re going to rot down naturally.”
