Warkworth Castle - The cuts hit the cuts!

Some people may have noticed that the grass banks around Warkworth Castle have been left uncut this year and frankly, to my mind, it looks a mess. I've had a few people contact me, both visitors and people who live in the area commenting about how untidy it looks. Warkworth Castle is such an imposing and beautiful Castle and we've gotten used to how it has looked with it's tidy, well kept grassy banks. After driving by recently I decided I'd contact the English Heritage to find out what's going on, their initial reply was that the grass in the moat had been left 'to encourage wildlife' to the area.

Now I'm all for encouraging wildlife, but I replied and suggested that the tops of the bank could surely be kept neat and tidy as it's seen so prominently from the road and the Village. I also expressed concern that the Spring display of daffodils, such an iconic image of Warkworth Castle, could be under threat if this area wasn't maintained. The reply I received to this, to give English Heritage their due was a detailed one from Mick Wilson, their Landscape Manager, and a summary of the response is copied below:

"Dear Andrew

As you may be aware English Heritage is currently having to respond to significant cut-backs in government funding.Considerable cost savings have had to be made across all service areas including grounds maintenance and we have had to introduce similar reductions in service levels across the majority of sites in the Northern Territory.

Thankyou for your recent communications to English Heritage regarding grounds maintenance at Warkworth Castle.

The long grass areas at Warkworth were previously cut on at least two occasions per annum but this regime was very expensive and along with other sites in the north it was decided to leave grass on banks uncut on a trial basis in order to meet cost savings targets. As the summer progressed this year we found that the banks at Warkworth became quickly covered in tall weeds and so all banks were cut and cleared as a one off exercise to control the potential spread of weed seeds.

As things stand the next cut at Warkworth is currently planned to take place in 2013. We are however now aware of the rapid growth of weeds on the banks and so the possibility of re-introducing at least one cut and clear of herbage each year will be reconsidered at a forthcoming 'end of year one trial period review' meeting to be held in early November. Your communication and concerns will be reviewed at this meeting and maintenance of the annual display of daffodils will also be taken into account.

Please be assured that all concerns and comments both positive and negative are being taken seriously and all letters and e.mails will go forward for further consideration and review at the end of this initial trial period. Your particular concerns for the future survival of daffodil display at Warkworth and the importance of the site in terms of tourism will certainly be taken into account during this review process. In the meantime if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Mick Wilson

Landscape Manager

English Heritage"

While I do have complete sympathy with every organisation that has been hit by the government cuts, I don't think that their current plan for the next grass cut at Warkworth to be in 2013 is an acceptable one. If you are resident in Warkworth, or have visited the area and feel that your views should be taken into account in their November review meeting, I would encourage you to email Mick at mick.wilson@english-heritage.org.uk and also warkworth.castle@english-heritage.org.uk with your views.