Mowing cutbacks will encourage wildflowers on verges
DERBYSHIRE Dales District Council is embarking on a project to reverse a decline in wild flowers growing in the district by cutting back on some of its mowing and cutting schedules.
The authority is working with local people to take steps to increase biodiversity in the district and 12 “pilot sites” have been created across the Derbyshire Dales to put its plans into action.
At these sites verges are being cut less frequently to encourage wild flowers to bounce back from what has been a national decline of 97% of wildflower meadows lost in a century.
The council is also working with and supporting local community groups such as Wilder of Wirksworth, where volunteers have been sowing wildflower seeds and potting on wildflowers from members’ gardens to plant out in the verge on the corner of Summer Lane.
A district council spokesman said: “Road verges are vital habitats for plants, invertebrates, small mammals and birds and form green corridors linking wild spaces.
“Sadly the biodiversity of road verges has declined dramatically due to being mowed too regularly, at the wrong time of year or neglected and allowed to develop into scrub.
“As a council we are responding to requests from local residents to cut verges less frequently and allow plants to flower, set seed and flourish.
“Most of our pilot sites are home to wildflowers already and they are being left uncut until late summer.
“A couple of the sites are typical grass verges and here we are supporting local community groups in creating new wildflower zones.”
The council will learn from the pilot sites and look to extend the number of wildflower verges next year, while supporting additional community groups that wish to create their own.
As well as road verges, the project will focus on parks and open spaces in the district, creating “wildlife corridors” and educational messages and information with help from local schools.