Ceredigion’s roadside verges are so important and spectacular that they are habitats included in the Ceredigion Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).
Since 2004 some of these verges have been designated as “Roadside Verge Reserves” and the LBAP Partnership is working towards a goal where cutting verges for road safety and protecting wildlife go hand in hand. The Ceredigion LBAP can be downloaded from the County Council website at: www.ceredigion.gov.uk.
Roadside verges are important for biodiversity as they are often remnants of semi-natural habitats that were once much more widespread in Ceredigion. The loss of those habitats is partly owing to changes in agricultural practices and, also, development pressures. Roadside verges provide valuable habitat areas for wildlife such as insects, small mammals and birds and can act as “wildlife corridors” that link areas of otherwise isolated habitats. There are approximately 4,490km of roadside verge in Ceredigion and they can produce wonderful colourful displays of primrose, campion, stitchwort, bluebell and the occasional orchid that are appreciated by many of Ceredigion’s residents and visitors.
Mowing of Ceredigion’s roadside verges for 2010 has already started. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales – Ceredigion’s botanical recorder – and Ceredigion County Council have identified a number of “Roadside Verge Reserves”, either because of their containing uncommon plant species or groups of plants; they are upland sites that don’t require mowing or, more recently, where they are urban areas suitable for becoming species-rich. Additionally, one relatively new reserve includes a ditch which is being managed for a variety of wildlife, not just botanical reasons.
Ceredigion’s roadside reserves, chosen with safety in mind as well as conservation, are cut less often than other verges or, in the case of the upland sites, not cut at all. Where cutting does take place, the cuttings are removed to prevent a build up of nutrients that may eventually lead to reduced diversity. Many of Ceredigion’s typical verge plants are perennial and will grow back each year but, ideally, they should have the opportunity to produce seed in some years. Later cutting allows such seeding to occur. Not mowing can be bad for biodiversity as verges may become dominated by vigorous plants that outgrow the smaller or slower growing ones with a danger of bracken and bramble eventually taking over.
2010 is the seventh year of the special management of the selected Ceredigion roadside verges. The County Council regularly reviews their management and continues to work closely on a cross-departmental basis to ensure that – subject to safety constraints and resource availability – it continue to improve verge management to benefit biodiversity within Ceredigion.
Any budding botanists interested in helping Ceredigion County Council to monitor Roadside Verge Reserves are invited to contact either Leanne Bird ([email protected]) at Ceredigion County Council on 01545 5721742 during weekday office hours or Emily Foot ([email protected]) from the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales on 07980 932332.
