Grass cutting will be reduced this year at several locations around Three Rivers as part of a pilot project to increase biodiversity across the district.

Some green spaces will remain uncut in order to find out what wildflowers grow naturally and the wildlife they attract.

The project will start later this month and will feed into a county-wide audit taking place this summer which aims to better understand the rich biodiversity across Hertfordshire — everything from plants to mammals and insects.

The pilot includes areas in Rickmansworth Park, Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Fortune Common in Rickmansworth, Mead Place in Mill End, Hayling Road and Woodhall Lane in South Oxhey, South border of Carpenders Park, Leavesden Country Park, East Lane Cemetery, Leavesden, and Swillet Park in Chorleywood.

Ray Figg, head of community services at Three Rivers District Council, said: "The world is facing an ecological emergency. We know from the State of Nature 2019 report that 15 per cent of species are under threat of extinction with 133 species already gone in the UK alone. Unless urgent action is taken, this decline will increase.

"Evidence from this pilot project will help us to develop an action and management plan to further increase biodiversity across the district by planting more wildflowers and trees."