Wildflower and meadow cut areas

Why do we only have wildflower verges in certain locations?

It is not always appropriate to let verges grow. We need to consider visibility and road safety. In some areas, it would just be unsafe not to cut grass verges regularly. Some verges may also not be suitable for wildflowers and the management they require. Some might only be composed of perennial rye-grass which would out-compete any wildflowers. Some might be too nutrient-rich as wildflowers prefer poor soils. Some might be too steep to manage as a wildflower verge.

Why are wildflower verges not mown right after they stop flowering/The wildflower verge is looking brown and dull why aren’t you cutting it?

Wild flowers need to be allowed to set seed, to make sure new flowers grow the following year. If they are cut during or right after flowering, there will be much fewer flowers in the verge the following year.

Pictorial meadows vs wildflower meadows: what’s the difference?

Wildflower meadows are composed of native, naturally occurring wildflowers and grasses.

Pictorial meadows (also sometimes called urban meadows or designer meadows) are composed of mixes of native, garden and non-native plants. They are designed first and foremost for their visual effect, creating waves of vivid colour that have a long-flowering season.

Wild flower meadows and verges are more ecologically important. Our native wildlife has a series of complicated and exclusive relationships with our native plants, which means that a diverse wild meadow can support a fantastic number of animal species. Its plants are also an expression of local biodiversity; no two sites are going to look alike, and there will even be subtle differences within the same species. They also contain a wide variety of grasses and sedges which are crucial for a number of insects including caterpillars.

Pictorial meadows can also provide food for pollinators (eg bees, butterflies, moths) depending on their composition. They tend to flower later in the year, so they look more colourful at the end of summer and provide nectar for pollinators later in the year. However, meadows support wildlife through more than just nectar; research by Plantlife suggests that while more than 1,400 species of insect feed on the leaves, stems and roots of native wild grassland flowers, a typical annual non-native pollinator mix will only support around 40 insect species in this way. Pictorial meadows often need to be re-seeded every year whereas wildflower meadows self-seed. Thus they require more work, are more expensive to maintain and are more suitable to urban environments, parks and gardens.

Won’t leaving roadside verges to grow encourage ragwort, is that bad?

Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a native plant with yellow, daisy-like flowers and a natural component of many types of grassland. It supports many species (up to 107 species of invertebrates), but is toxic to grazing animals. It is, however, also unpalatable and livestock won’t eat it unless it is cut and dried in hay. Good, careful management of verges will not encourage the spread of ragwort.

Is road safety compromised by managing verges for wildlife?

No. Safety comes first, and we will only let verges grow where it is safe to do so. Certain verges must be cut regularly to maintain clear lines of visibility – this is particularly crucial at junctions where a ‘visibility splay’ has to be maintained at all times. On some busy roads, this also applies to the first metre from the edge of the carriageway.

Last updated: 14/03/2022 12:57