A COMMUNITY campaigner has backed a scheme which sees grass-cutting given the chop to create wildlife havens.

Burnley Council’s meadow management scheme, which will save the council around £70,000, involves some of the towns’ parks, playing fields, grass verges and slopes.

Council officers are mowing the edges of the new ‘meadows’ but will leave the rest of the grass untouched for the rest of the summer.

Last week critics slammed the cost-cutting exercise, saying the areas will look unkempt and project the wrong impression of the towns.

But Michael Mobey, a campaigner in Burnley Wood – one of the main areas affected – defended the scheme, saying the unmown areas looked ‘beautiful’.

The grandad-of-five, who lives in Britannia Walk, said he had spoken to a number of residents who were in favour of the initiative.

He said: “I think it really does look like somebody is trying to make an effort and the majority of people around here agree.

“There are lots of blue, red, yellow and purple and white flowers among the grass – it looks beautiful.

“It’s two-fold really. It looks far better than having rough cut grass and 90 per cent of it looks beautiful.

“The other thing is what do the Labour Party want the council to do – spend the money on cutting it and it still looks scruffy?

“Or take the money from a school or community centre?

“This is doing two good things. It’s saving money and creating a nice atmosphere by attracting wildlife like butterflies and insects.”

Burnley Council said any area where children play would be regularly cut and fully maintained as it was the introduction of the scheme.