Harrogate Council respond after campaigners remove astroturf from planters
The authority says it was part of a larger scheme, but has apologised for not communicating that before installing the artificial grass.
Astroturf installed on planters in Harrogate has been replaced with plants, by Environmental Campaigners.
Extinction Rebellion Harrogate, who carried out the action this morning (Tuesday 11 May), have accused Harrogate Borough Council of prioritising "neat and tidy" over biodiversity.
The Borough Council, though, says it was part of a scheme to encourage more plants, with the artificial grass designed to be a base for smaller planters, in a bid to stop plants suffering when trees use up all the nutrients.
A council spokesperson added that: “We haven’t explained this well and we are sorry about that. We concentrated too much on getting the trial in place and not enough time explaining the totality of what we were doing.” Read the full council statement below.
Jess Thompson, from the group, who helped co-ordinate the action, says they were "really shocked, confused and disappointed" when the plants were replaced with artificial grass.
Jess added: "We really don't want Harrogate to be a plastic town, and Harrogate Borough Council are sending the message that 'neat and tidy' is more important than biodiversity. Extinction Rebellion Harrogate strongly disagree, and as there was no public consultation we felt best to bring back nature ourselves. Nature is beautiful and plastic is pollution.
"On Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock, we went with our tools and mulch and everything we needed, including a variety of shade-loving plants, kindly donated by a few of our members. We very carefully removed the fake plastic grass that had been laid and we rolled it up ready to deliver to Harrogate Borough Council offices. We replaced it by planting all of these lovely plants."
Jess continued: "We're hoping the council will act quickly to do the same, and fix the problem that they've created, or allow us to do the rest of the planters, or even better, the community to be able to do so."
"We haven’t explained this well and we are sorry about that."
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said: “While we recognise Extinction Rebellion Harrogate’s reasons for removing the artificial grass and installing plants we would have preferred them speaking to us first so that we could have explained the full scheme and how it enables even more plants right in to our town centre.
“Traditionally, we’ve put plants in the beds beneath the trees, but these rarely last very long because the trees soak up all the moisture and nutrients in the soil, leading to the plants looking rather sorry for themselves.
“Inevitably, this means the beds end up being visually dull and nothing more than a magnet for cigarette butts, empty coffee cups and fast-food takeaway packaging. They look a mess and prompt almost as many complaints as we’ve had about the artificial grass.
“The artificial grass is a base for planters that will sit on top of the beds.
“These planters – that have already started to be installed – will have their own water source, separate from the tree roots, so that the bedding plants can thrive on their own. This will result in a vibrant display of colour all year round. Using the artificial grass as a base means we can have more and more plants in our town centre and make the area more attractive.
“We’ve been asked why we didn’t put down stone or bark. We ruled this out because, regrettably, it will be most likely end up being used as an ashtray or messed-up because it is loose. Surfacing with stone, or something more substantial, would also compromise the tree root system.
“This is just a trial though. If, when the beds are fully installed, they don’t make the town look better and bring more plants into the town centre then we will remove them and try something else.
“We share the passion people have for Harrogate’s award winning floral displays and is something we will continue to support.
“We are also have further plans to reduce carbon emissions having recently identified three new council-owned sites, covering some 17 hectares, for new tree planting schemes.
“We haven’t explained this well and we are sorry about that. We concentrated too much on getting the trial in place and not enough time explaining the totality of what we were doing.”