Using traditional cythes protects wildlife more than mechanical cutting

Helping wildlife flourish on roadside verges

Wildlife experts are joining with the Staffordshire Highways team to protect the county's network of wild plant and animal rich roadside verges.

The Moorlands Highways team is working with the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the County Council's Environment and Countryside experts create a Staffordshire Highways wildflower seed bank, and extend the areas of wildlife flower rich colour along the road-signs.

The first project is focusing on is identifying verges where reseeding could be most successful.

Staffordshire Highways Engineer Bob Middleton: "We are looking to match up donor seed stocks from established local nature reserves with potential recipient verges. It's important we match the seed to the habitat, ensuring they grow and succeed."

The team is also experimenting with cutting regimes to establish the most effective for wildlife.

Other highways management issues that affect the health of the environment are also being reviewed.

The County Council  is also investigating the science of salt spreading to establish the most environmentally friendly techniques, protecting sensitive verges from damage.

County Regeneration Cabinet Member Councillor John Wakefield said: "It's about balance. Highways are the links that join up so many areas of our lives, from work to home, from farm to factory, from wood to dale. The verges, when managed carefully and sensitively, can provide a delightful wildlife rich corridor. Wildlife rich verges take bio-diversity into the everyday world.

"Staffordshire County Council cares for and balances every aspect of the quality of life. We make the connections between economic prosperity and jobs, quality of life and environment, leisure, education, social care and health. Everything is interconnected - and the transport network is the physical manifestation of those links."

Mike Deegan, from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's Weaver Hills Project, said: "Staffordshire manages over 3,500 miles of roads and verges, that's a massive land management task. We are keen to work ever more closely with our County colleagues to make sure we share every opportunity to protect our wildlife heritage and carry that richness to new areas for future the benefit of future generations."

Page Last Modified: 30/01/2007 16:05:15

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