ROADSIDE VERGES
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

OBJECTIVES

To identify, maintain and enhance old roadside verges with characteristic local flora.
To promote the importance of roadside verges as wildlife habitat by encouraging sympathetic new planting and management regimes.

LOCAL TARGETS

Targets awaited

CURRENT STATUS

The 3,200 kilometres of roads in the Cheshire region provide a valuable wildlife resource and contribute to the wildlife corridor network. A small proportion have retained fragments of unique habitat from an earlier period whilst new verges have provided the opportunity for both created and pioneering plant communities. In 1973 a survey of verges identified 80 sites of nature conservation interest with 8 sites listed as of national importance. Presently 4 roadside verges are included in the County Council register of Sites of Biological Importance (SBI).

In a 1995 Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 115 sites were included, with a number of previously unrecorded sites being identified in Chester City Council's Nature Conservation Audit. Of the 8 sites listed in 1973 one has been largely lost to abuse/ fly tipping; at another three sites the unique flora was not traced; at two sites the extent of meadow cranesbill is still evident and the remaining two sites retain a locally diverse flora. Of the 85 sites surveyed in 1995, 30 sites may be considered for SBI status. In addition there are 33 SBIs adjacent to roads where a survey of the verge would be appropriate.

All road verges are maintained to a minimum standard to comply with safety requirements. In 2002 Cheshire County Council will take over responsibility for Trunk Roads, currently maintained by the Highways Agency. Ragwort is dealt with by hand pulling in areas where a particular problem is identified

THREATS

• The timing of cutting which may prevent the setting of seed.
• Cuttings being left in situ, which may increase soil nitrate and encourage coarser species.
• Erosion caused by vehicle intrusion.
• Tipping.
• Inappropriate/unsympathetic reinstatement.
• Scrub invasion on wider verges leading to a loss in biodiversity.
• Invasion of problem species (ragwort, giant hogweed).
• Planting of non-native species.
• Inadvertent spreading of road salt onto verges
• Inappropriate use of herbicides.

CURRENT ACTION

• In rural areas, verges are cut to one swathe width adjacent to the carriageway, twice per annum, with allowance for visibility splays as necessary.
• In urban areas, verges are cut more frequently to maintain a sward height between 12 - 75mm, and cuttings are generally removed.
• Allowance for cutting around street furniture, cutting embankments to alleviate fire risk, cutting adjacent to footpaths etc. is included in the maintenance schedule.
• District Highways Engineers are responsible for the maintenance schedule for rural verges and can vary this as appropriate on a verge by verge basis.
• Appropriate verge treatment is taken into consideration in new Cheshire County Council Highways Schemes

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2006+

• Form a Local BAP Action Group for verges.
• Develop a systematic survey to give an insight into the Regional resource.
• Formulate a cost-effective scheme for marking and maintaining special verges.
• Agree a best practice code for reseeding/planting of verges for biodiversity in different habitats.
• Create a bid for funding to implement the best practice code.
• Produce a leaflet for the benefit of elected representatives and the general public.
• Provide copies of individual verge surveys to the local community.
• Involve local communities in monitoring their special verge and encourage them to recognise other sites in their locality.
• Consider the addition of more verges into the SBI register using the 1995 data.
• Include verges in surveys of adjacent wildlife sites.
• Provide advice on maintenance contracts for future verge management.
• Provide advice at the design stage for new road schemes

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

None

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

None

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

CONTACT

Mike Wellman, Cheshire County Council
01244 603195

REFERENCES

HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.

Date compiled - 1999
Date reviewed - 2001, 2002

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