Campaign for Natural Verges

speckled wood · #1 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 10:49 AM

Following on my my comments in the "Re-wilding Thread

on our wanderings how many of us go along country lanes to find hundreds of yards of verges neatly mown and manicured by residents of nearby houses and cottages? it may look "nice" to them but all we are seeing really is a bland (and mishapen bit of lawn). Actually as I understand it is illegal to do this yet local councils do little if anything to discourage it

Thankfully the Flail Mowing policies of the 1970s have ended but in many places verges are being wrecked by local residents going out and neating mowing not just the bit of verge in front of their property but also often long stretched to each side and over the road which are not on the boundaries of their properties, as I understand it an illegal practice. So how about a campaign for wildlife friendly verges and a little action in promoting this idea and perhaps raising the issue with local councils?

paulthomas · #2 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speckled wood

and perhaps raising the issue with local councils?

It's unlikely to be anything to do with the local councl unless you live in a metropolitan area with a single tier council structure. In most rural areas (which is where most verges are) the county council is the highways authority and you would probably be better off directing your concerns to them.

Earth Hart · #3 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 12:37 PM

With a glass of Hind's Breath in my hand I raise a toast to the CNV

Damn good idea!! As Paul's mentioned, out in the sticks it's the CC & Highways Dept. Need to get the village/parish councils on board though.

Susie · #4 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 08:26 PM

Sounds like a little bit of re-education is in need. Once people appreciate what a little patch of grass and wild flowers can support they might be a bit keener on leaving it be.

________________________________________

Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

Airehead · #5 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 09:04 PM

It might be different in your part of the world, but where I have seen it, it has not been very significant compared with the greater extent of wild verges away from the houses.

Susie · #6 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 09:10 PM

I shall bow to your greater knowledge, cos where I live there aren't really any natural verges.

I would like to think that every little helps though.

__________________________________

Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

Earth Hart · #7 (**permalink**) 20-09-2006, 09:36 PM

I think it might be a good idea to get WABers to do a survey of their local patch so we can see if there are differences in the regions and to what extent the verges are maintained.

You're right Susie, every little helps, as the sig. at the bottom of this post states.

Is there enough of us who would be prepared to tackle this? Could we set up a "grass verge photo Gallery, the best & the worst, even nameing & shameing?