Representatives from Erewash Borough Council have joined those from Derbyshire County plus other district and borough councils and specialists in biodiversity in an online conference to look at improving grass verges across the county.
The conference was called by Derbyshire County Council’s Leader, Councillor Barry Lewis, as a way to start discussions about grass verge management, and what can be done by working together.
Most grass verges are the responsibility of the county council, but the district and borough councils have the responsibility for the maintenance. For many years this has meant that around our towns and villages they are mowed regularly to keep the grass at a low level, while in the countryside some verges do not get cut often enough to help wildflowers grow there.
There is now a growing call for councils across the country to leave the grass to grow longer in order to promote biodiversity and help to combat climate change, and to cut rural verges in a way that supports more wildlife, yet still leave junctions visible so road safety is not affected.
Two councils in Derbyshire shared their experiences of how changing the way they maintain grass verges within their area has improved biodiversity. Further examples were given of how cutting the grass fewer times a year and investing in new mowing machines that pick up the cuttings rather than leaving them could help promote more wildflowers and encourage more butterflies and bees to grass verges.
Councillor Barry Lewis said: “This conference was a first step to a sensible, credible plan to increase the biodiversity of our roadside verges.
“I’m grateful to all those who attended, it was a very stimulating and interesting discussion.
“We are now looking at how we might support the district and borough councils in taking a different approach, which I’m sure many residents and visitors will be pleased to hear.
”We’ll now work at pace to undertake the work needed so that we can have a new approach to looking after our verges.
“By working together and sharing best practice we can make a real difference to biodiversity and encourage all sorts of plants and wildlife to flourish.”
Speakers at the conference included representatives from Derbyshire Dales District Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Building Sites for Butterflies.