Marham Park, Bury St Edmunds, resident says area of open space on Countryside development still looks 'complete and utter mess'

A developer has responded after Marham Park residents in Bury St Edmunds wanted to know what was happening with a supposed wildflower area.

SuffolkNews ran a story in July about residents being unhappy with the appearance of an area of open space where wildflower seeds hadn’t taken.

At the time Martyn Wood, 66, of Merchant Avenue, described it as looking ‘worse than a jungle’.

Three months on, he said: "It looks a complete and utter mess which is not fitting with a residential estate."

He added 'no-one seems to listen’.

A spokesperson for Countryside said: “Although currently not in season, the wildflower area is now taking and the sward thickening well.

“Maintenance plans are in place for the coming months, including some cutting of the sward to enable regermination and the planting of some replacement shrubs. A landscape maintenance contractor has been instructed to undertake this work.”

They said they were continuing to work closely with West Suffolk Council's horticulture and grounds maintenance team regarding the wildflower area, the delivery of which is a planning requirement.

They also said following a meeting on site last month, West Suffolk Council was reviewing the legal requirements to enable the transfer of the open space areas, with a view to Countryside handing over management responsibility to West Suffolk Council in 2023.

West Suffolk Council was approached for comment.