Speak up for Wildlife Friendly Road Verges

Road verges form a significant wildlife resource in Rushcliffe. They provide interconnectivity for a wide variety of species  ranging from the wide tall grass and Cow Parsley verges in the south of Rushcliffe or the colourful  daisy and dandelion flower dotted verges elsewhere. They provide food, shelter and support for many different invertebrates, small mammals and birds etc. They can also look good, providing they are not over mown.

However, it is fair to say that not everybody sees it that way: some see leaving verges uncut as untidy or as cost cutting. The point is people do write to councillors to complain, getting their attention. So it is incumbent on fans of flowery, abundant roadsides to also write into councillors praising verges that are looking good, grumbling about verges cut in their prime. Either way you are making the case that road verges matter and making the case for restraining the mowers.

The Highways Agency are responsible for mowing trunk roads, namely A453, A52 and A46 in Rushcliffe. But all other road verges (rural and urban) are the responsibility of Notts County Council. The standard NCC regime is a one metre wide cut along the road edge twice per year (wider on bends and junctions). There is a full width verge cut once every three years, carried out on rotation. Overall this is not bad and reasonably in line with Plantlife guidance on a mowing regime that is a compromise between wildlife and road management.

But whilst it is County Councillors who can most influence mowing policy, Rushcliffe Councillors will also get adverse comments about verges and discus them with their county counterparts, so we would advocate contacting both your Borough Councillor and County Councilor, speaking up for road verges. In addition you can raise the issue on social media particularly by commenting on Council Facebook pages etc.

Whether you are pleased with how verges look, or feel Councils could do better. please stand up and be counted for wildlife friendly road verges.

We have produced some sample words that you might like to use in your communications, which can be found on Road Verge Letter

Gordon Dyne on behalf of South Notts Local Group (NWT) and Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group