Bradford Urban Wildlife Group
Bradford Urban Wildlife Group
recording, observing and protecting Bradford wildlife & habitats
But what do we want for our verges?
On Springwatch 2015, Chris Packham mentioned cutting roadside verges and his audience virtually unanimously agreed that verges should be left uncut BUT local papers frequently run stories about residents complaining over untidy verges.
Verges have to be managed, for road safety and for nature.
Left alone verges will quickly lose the variety of plants and insects which could be there and become choked by scrub.
verge at start of oBingleyt relief road
How should verges be managed?
First have a plan.
Agree on the verge habitat you want to see?
A management planning map of the roadsides involved should be created, marked to show:
sites of special biological interest which may need individual management
lengths of verge needing seasonal management to prevent encroachment of scrub preserving
& encouraging herb-rich grassland communities
lengths of roadside where scrub might be allowed to develop;
lengths of roadside where there is no known biological interest.
Most managed verges are species-rich grassland.
97% of lowland meadow habitat has been lost since the 1930s, and a number of rare flower species have their last strongholds on roadside verges.
Species-rich grassland is best preserved by mowing twice a year (late June and early September in one study), with prompt clearing of cut material.
Management of verges can be improved by:
reducing soil fertility
- by avoiding use of fertiliser;
- by promptly removing cut material;
- by applying top soil sparingly if at all.
maintaining a mosaic of mowed and unmowed habitats
creating irregular topography giving a greater range of breeding sites
- ditches added to narrow flat verges
- sheltered hollows dug from the side of large cuttings
- steep slopes designed to descend in steps
Roads are bad for nature, but managing verges for wildlife can offset some of the damage, without increasing road hazards.
Further Reading
Highways Agency & Natural England (2006) The Butterfly Handbook – how projects
can be adapted to reduce adverse impacts on, and provide benefits for, butterflies. Log on www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/documents/The_Butterfly_Handbook.pdf
Highways
Sue Everett (2007) British wild plants for wildlife schemes.
British Wildlife, vol.18, no.3:161-168
Optimizing grassland management for flower-visiting insects in roadside verges
Biological Conservation - Based on: Noordijk J., Delille K., Schaffers A.P. & Sykora K.V (2009)
Birds on roadside verges and the effect of mowing on frequency and distribution
Biological Conservation - Based on: Laursen K. (1981)