Roadside verges: nature havens

Roadside verges are nature havens!

Roadside verges need to be managed differently so that they provide food sources for declining insect populations, refuge for amphibians and reptiles and habitat for small mammals.

They also act as corridors, linking nature spaces together and enabling animals like hedgehogs to move around feeding sites and to search for a mate. There are 1000's of miles of roadside verges in Shropshire and they could all be of huge benefit to our wildlife, contributing to our vision of a Nature Recovery Network.

Find out more about Nature Recovery Networks here.

Restoring verges in Shropshire

We are supporting an ambitious project to restore miles of roadside verges to grassland habitat across the county.

The project is run in collaboration with Caring for Gods Acre, The National Trust and numerous local action groups and parishes.

Meadow — (c) Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

What does the partnership aim to achieve?

• Undertake survey and mapping work to establish the status and location of verges.

• Continue the practical management of demonstration verges throughout south Shropshire and beyond.

• Education of wider public about the value of wildflower-rich grassland and how ‘neat and tidy’ is not always the best thing for wildlife.

• Engage volunteers in a very positive way and develop a volunteer base.

• Develop a pilot project on the use of verge arisings in an anaerobic digester.

• Continued developing liaison and relationships with organisations such as Marches Meadow Group, National Trust, Community Wildlife Groups and Caring for God’s Acre

• Promote to other groups to start up similar projects in the county, the group are always looking for new members.

The group also aims to influence local councils and parishes to manage roadside verges differently, for the benefit of wildlife.

To find out more about the project, watch the video below:

Caring for God's Acre RSVP film (https://youtu.be/BJpejshEqG4)

Downloads

Follow the project on social media:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ShropsVerge

Twitter: @ShropsVerge

Some of the species that will benefit from this project include:

Species

Six-spot burnet moth

The six-spot burnet moth is a day-flying moth that flies with a slow, fluttering pattern. Look for it alighting on knapweeds and…

A hedgehog snuffling around in the leaf litter

Species

European hedgehog

Considered a gardener’s best friend, hedgehogs will happily hoover up insects roaming in vegetable beds. Famously covered in spines,…

Species

Small tortoiseshell

The pretty small tortoiseshell is a familiar garden visitor that can be seen feeding on flowers all year-round during warm spells.…

Examples of the plants that can thrive along verges:

Species

Oxeye daisy

Often growing in swathes along a roadside or field margin, the oxeye daisy is just as at home in traditional hay meadows. The large,…

Species

Yellow-rattle

Brush through a wildflower meadow at the height of summer and you'll hear the tiny seeds of yellow-rattle rattling in their brown…

Species

Common knapweed

The tightly packed, thistle-like purple flower heads of common knapweed bloom on all kinds of grasslands. Also regularly called black…

How can you help?

You don't have to have a verge to help wildlife! At home, there are all sorts of things you can do to help wildlife. Leaving a patch in your garden to grow wild or planting a window box with wildflowers will make a difference.