Blundering council contractors destroy award-winning community wildflower garden

BLUNDERING council contractors went to mow, went to mow a meadow... and destroyed an award-winning community space.

They ignored warning signs during ‘No Mow May’ and left only clumps of brambles and dandelions untouched.

Gareth Hurd, 36, from Alton, East Hampshire, spent a day last year turning the space next to his home into the Butts Community Garden.

But when the conservation worker returned from work he found his hard work had been blitzed.

The dad-of-three, who thought the gaffe had set back the garden by about five years said: “It is very disappointing.

“I planted the meadow spring last year with native wildgrasses and flowers.

“The space is intended to act as a display of what you can do in your garden which is more environmentally friendly.

“But the side that’s good for the environment was flattened.

“I thought lots of wooden posts would have given them a clue.”

Mr Hurd's neighbour, Rick Luke, 52, said: “One side now looks like a complete eyesore — they’ve left a clump of weeds.”

An East Hampshire District Council spokesman said: “We are deeply upset to hear this garden was cut in error. We will be investigating.”

The meadow won the Pollin-8 award from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust in 2021.