Are the verges being left long for No Mow May? Or is it a cost cutting exercise by the council?
In 2018 East Sussex County Council took the decision to reduce the number of cuts of verges from 6 to 2 per year. and gave Seaford Town Council the option to pay for extra cuts. Seaford Town Council chose not to do so, due to budgetary constraints. So no, this is nothing to do with No Mow May, a campaign started by the charity Plantlife, which is primarily aimed at encouraging individuals in their own gardens to allow some, or all, of their lawn to grow long, in order to benefit wildflowers, and pollinators etc.
How does leaving the verges longer help biodiversity?
If verges are allowed to grow longer, this allows wild flowers to bloom and set seed, providing much needed food and homes for insects, such as bees, and caterpillars.
Another very important benefit that verges are well placed to provide is to connect up our fragmented and urban landscape, providing much needed wildlife corridors. In this way, our verges can become part of a National Nature Recovery Network, connecting town and country, and joining up vital places for wildlife.
Some verges aren’t flowering but just unsightly grass going to seed. Why is this and how can it be improved?
In order to allow wild flowers to thrive, it is important to reduce the nutrients in the soil which can cause long grasses to take over. While the long grasses have value in themselves, they can take away the ability for diverse wildflower species to thrive. One simple way of reducing the vigour of grasses is to employ the cut and collect method. It reduces the speed at which grass grows, and allows more biodiversity to flourish. It also means, long term, that there is less need to mow so frequently so although an initial investment is required, there can be long term cost savings (and reduced carbon emissions).
Establishing the correct timescales for cutting is also essential. It is important not to cut before wildlflowers have set seed, and also to allow dependent wildlife to complete its lifecycle.
The amount of grass v flower growth will also be weather dependent. It appears that this year’s weather has promoted vigorous grass growth at the expense of our wildflowers.
What would be the ideal verge cutting regime to maximise biodiversity? Are there examples of councils that have a happy compromise between keeping both wildlife and people happy?
Plantlife recommends one cut (and collect) per year in the autumn. In areas where this is not possible, or desirable, (for example due to safety reasons or in an urban environment), mowing every 4 to 8 weeks is recommended, again using the cut and collect method. Alternatively, on wider verges, a line one mower’s width length can be mown around the perimeter to provide a tidy appearance on road boundaries, and the remaining grass can be allowed to grow longer (it is also beneficial for wildlife to have areas of different lengths of grass).
Dorset County Council provide an excellent example of how to do things differently. They have reduced soil fertility by successfully employing the cut and collect method, allowing them to reduce costs in the long run too. A particularly innovative example is the construction of the Weymouth Relief road. No topsoil was applied, creating a low nutrient growing medium, and wildflower seeds were sown. The result is a profusion of wildflowers and virtually no maintenance requirements. On some verges, they have also sowed yellow rattle ( which naturally parasitises grass roots), and this, together with the cut and collect method, means that the Blandford Bypass is now designated an SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Importance) by Dorset Wildlife Trust, with pyramidal orchids, ox-eye daisies, and knapweed flourishing.
Dorset County Council report that the cut and collect method has proved popular with residents too: the verges are much neater when cut, and create a low growing wildflower expanse between cuts. Dorset’s approach has meant significantly better habitats for pollinators (which are crucial, of course, to allow plants and crops to grow). Their approach also helps them to meet the objectives of their ‘Action Plan for Pollinators‘.
My verge was full of beautiful flowers, but now has been cut. How can I get my verge designated a wildlife verge? If I do this, how will the cutting and management be different?
There are two possibilities: if there are species present of particular conservation interest eg pyramidal orchids, or if the verge has potential to be a haven for wildflowers and other wildlife, then you can apply to East Sussex County Council for the verge to be registered as a ‘Wildlife Verge’. This would mean the verge would not be cut until the autumn, when the cuttings should also be collected. Alternatively, if the verge is not considered to meet the criteria to be a ‘wildlife verge’, ESCC will consider including it in the ‘Meadow Verge’ scheme. Again, the verge will not be cut until the autumn, although the cuttings will not be cleared in this case. If you are interested in applying for your verge to be designated as a wildlife/meadow verge, On The Verge can help you with this. Please contact ontheverge@renaturingseaford.org for more information.
I grew my lawn into a meadow but it is now difficult to cut down. What is the best way to cut it, and when is the best time?
When carrying out the first cut, make a high level cut first (with a strimmer or scythe), before following with a lower cut. Avoid mowing around the edges towards the centre, as this leaves wildlife no escape route and creates a ‘killing zone’. You can also cut your meadow in stages, over a number of days or weeks. This makes the job less of a daunting task, and also has the added benefit of giving any wildlife present time to relocate.
It’s also important to rake up and collect the cuttings, to encourage better germination of seed and less prolific grass growing.
I want to keep my lawn shorter. Is this still good for wildlife? How can I maximise biodiversity without letting it grow too long?
There are some wildflowers which particularly thrive in shorter lawns eg clover, bird’s-foot trefoil, and self-heal. Also, many wildflowers make their best start to the season from a short lawn (as fast growing grass can smother wildflower seedlings growing slowly through autumn and winter). So absolutely, a shorter lawn can still be good for wildlife! For maximum benefit, try to reduce your cuts to once a month throughout the growing season. This will allow shorter flowers to flourish.
Having areas of different length grass is the best way to maximise biodiversity. If you can, leave some areas uncut throughout the year too. (It’s particularly important to leave grassy strips close to hedgerows and other habitat corridors wild. These long grasses provide valuable feeding material, shelter, and nesting sites for species such as hedgehogs and toads).
Where can I find out more about increasing biodiversity in my garden?
The Plantlife website contains excellent resources:
Also, to manage your ‘mini meadow’ follow this calendar:
Also check out the “Metre Square for Wildlife” page to find out more about bringing wildlife to your garden.
