COUNCIL workers across East Ayrshire are all set to embrace 'flower power' to help tackle the climate emergency.
But we're not talking about a return to the 'alternative' counter-culture of the 1960s with its long hair, 'free love' and psychedelic music.
Instead, staff from the 'greener communities' team at East Ayrshire Council will be working across the area sowing wild flowers as part of a 'rewilding' project.
Rewilding helps wildlife to recover and with flourishing habitats, lost wildlife will be able to return.
The wild flowers will be sown in specially selected areas, and signs will be placed in these spots to advise that sowing has taken place and that machinery must not be used.
A spokesperson said: "The council recognises that rewilding will not be possible in every area of East Ayrshire.
"A measured approach will be required as to where grass is left to grow and the council will work to ensure that a collective view is taken from our communities as to where this is appropriate.
"This annual process will guide how Greener Communities will link to rewilding and environmental areas of work including current initiatives like No Mow May, where some areas are cut while others are left to grow or have reduced cutting programmes."
Cumnock and New Cumnock councillor Jim McMahon spoke to the team from Greener Communities about their rewilding plans.
Cllr McMahon said: “It was great to meet the Greener Communities team and discuss their plans for rewilding areas within East Ayrshire.
"Robert Pinkerton and Roddy Hood are very experienced and have worked hard to identify areas that would really benefit from rewilding.
“Robert has been working with members of the Greener Communities team to plot the identified rewilding areas on an online map, and we are hoping this will be available on the council’s website in the next few months.
“The team at Greener Communities have also been working with local community groups to introduce wildflowers on the green spaces entering a number of villages across East Ayrshire.
"Evidence shows bold strips of wildflowers on roadsides really make a difference to local communities and local biodiversity."
If you have a site in your community you'd like to see hosting wild flowers as part of the council's project, you can email outdoor.amenities@east-ayrshire.gov.uk to find out more.
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