Elected Member Briefing Note 2026, No. 41
About this Briefing Note
Report by: Andy Clegg (Service Manager)
Date: 20 March 2026
Subject: Grow Wild
Details
Purpose
To provide an update on the progress of the roll out of Grow Wild, following the first year of additional funding and the forward plan for next season. This now includes, the Greenspace Enhancement Squad. This is an extension to the previous grassland management trials, following the policy approved at the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee on 31 May 2023, and the budget decisions made on 28 February 2024 for Grounds Maintenance over the next three financial years.
A further update was provided in April 2024 and the budget decision of the 4 March to implement a new Greenspace Enhancement Squad
Briefing Information
On 4 March, approval was given for the establishment of a Grounds Maintenance Enhancement Squad. This investment will complement the £200k already allocated for biodiversity in 2025/26 and 2026/27, enabling us to build on the work completed to date and further support the expansion of Grow Wild across Perth and Kinross.
To date, we have carried out 68 site surveys in cemeteries, and we will continue to work closely with local communities to take forward biodiversity actions.
Using this year's budget, we have already delivered a number of community bulb-planting sessions, with around 60% of our community groups taking part. This has included snowdrop planting as part of the Green Graveyard Initiative, as well as a "Bluebell Blitz."
Over the next couple of months, our focus will be on introducing wildflower seed mixes into cemetery headstone borders. This approach will help reduce the use of weedkiller, improve biodiversity, and enhance the appearance of these areas, while also ensuring that headstone stability is not affected and allowing mosses and lichens to thrive.
In addition, over the next month or two, around 60 sites in parks and open spaces will be planted with wildflower seeds, further contributing to increased biodiversity and visual interest across the area.
As part of the Caring for Biodiversity project, we have delivered biodiversity enhancements to care homes at 11 locations across Perth and Kinross. These have included 300+ low-maintenance perennial shrubs from Westbank, bulbs, fruit trees and Wonder Mix seed. This will help extend food sources for pollinators from February through to November, as well as providing added colour for residents, staff and visitors alike. A mixture of planters, plus 80 bird and bat boxes were provided, 7 care homes also receiving specially designed swift nest boxes.
So far, we have:
- Delivered six training sessions for volunteers in the use of machinery
- Completed 28 community mapping sessions
- Supported a range of community projects, including community orchards
- Hosted planting days—for example, at Rattray Common with local school pupils, planting both trees and wildflowers
Our next major event is a Community Action & Networking Day on 24 March, with 80 volunteers confirmed so far.
We are also in the process of emailing our community groups to confirm their budget allocations, provide a Grow Wild update, and let them know that the Westbank Wonder Mix will continue to be available. We will also highlight that a dedicated squad will be in place in the coming months to support community activities and enhance Grow Wild areas.
In addition, we will be offering further community mapping sessions and surveying our main parks to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan for these sites, outlining opportunities for both Council-led and community-led enhancements.
We will continue to share good news stories as this work progresses, and we would appreciate it if you could highlight any areas that may benefit from enhancement by our new squad.
