Grass verges around Douglas have been left uncut over summer in a project called ’Plan Bee’ - an attempt to benefit trees, beesnd the wider environment by creating ’pollinator pit-stops’.

Douglas Council’s regeneration and community committee put up signs to inform public of why the grass was allowed to grow, but has drawn criticism from some for making the town look untidy.

Derby Ward councillor and Green party member Andrew Bentley said: ’We knew it would be divisive.

There are some people who absolutely hate it, and some people who love it.

’There was also a big chunk of people in the middle, and in that case it’s about communication - people don’t like to see it being neglected, and that’s why the signs are there to explain why this is happening.

’This is not neglect, this is not the council doing it to just abandon the space, this is actually to create an environment which is good for the insects which feed our wildlife such as hedgehogs and garden birds, and pollinate plants.’

Local bee expert Harry Owens believes decorative-looking wildflowers could have been used instead to ’take some of the sting out of complaints about it looking wild or unkempt’.

Councillor Bentley said wildflowers were supposed to be planted but problems arising due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant there was a lack of resources.

He says any suggestions that leaving the spaces to grow was a cost-cutting exercise are completely false.