ONE of York’s historic strays could be left to grow wild this summer, after pleas to the council to rein in its management practices.

Monk Stray may not be mown at all this year, in a bid to stop the historic pasture land deteriorating into a “brown desert”.

Rupert Waddington, who lives near the stray, has been urging the council to stop frequently cutting the grass very short throughout the summer.

At present the grass is mown short but the land is not fertilised or scarified like a lawn or a sports pitch would be, so grass struggles patches appear where it has deteriorated badly and been overtaken by moss, he said. In other areas the heavy tractors have formed when the ground is wet craters.

“I totally understand everyone will have their own views on how the stray should look, but this is not an aesthetic argument. It’s about ensuring that in 10, 15 or 20 years time we still have a living and biodiverse stray.”

Other areas like Walmgate Stray are not mown they are much healthier and don’t suffer the bare patches of brown earth that blight Monk Stray in the summer Mr Waddington added.

Last year the city council delayed its first mow of the year on Monk Stray is response to his pleas. This year, it is considering the best way of looking after the grassland. Russell Stone, head of operations, said: “Following the trial last year where we delayed the first cutting of Monk Stray we are looking to consult with partners and residents on the future schedule for ground maintenance before we cut it.”

Everyone who currently uses the stray will still be able to enjoy it even if the grass isn’t cut, Mr Waddington added, and people like dog walkers will naturally create paths around the land.

“In fact, because there will be grass growing all summer people will be able to use it more than usual.”