Feature

New Leaf Alresford

On the Verge of Change in Alresford Alresford has been chosen for an exciting new trial, which will see the number of cuts to our verges reduced in order to boost wildflowers and pollinators.

Over 97% of all flower rich grassland has been lost in England since the 1930s. Restoration and conservation is essential to provide habitat for our pollinators, like bees and butterflies, and other wildlife. The UK has 238,000 hectares of verges compared to just 85,000 hectares of surviving speciesrich grassland. Verges are a vital refuge, with more pollinators found on well-managed verges than in the neighbouring countryside.

The 2020 ‘lockdown’ saw UK roads fall eerily quiet, partly because drivers stayed at home, but in many areas council mowing also ceased and our verges flourished. Lockdown demonstrated that many of our verges are flower-rich and harbour the potential to help address the ‘pollinator crisis’.

There are other benefits too. Wildflowers appearing on our waysides and verges are an uplifting sight, contributing significantly to our wellbeing. Overly frequent cutting regimes also drive up the UK’s carbon emissions, with mower engines generating up to ten times the emissions of passenger cars.

About the scheme Winchester City Council manages verges within 30 mile per hour zones. During the trial, the number of cuts will be reduced from nine per year to four. The first cut took place in March with the remaining three scheduled from June. Two verge areas in Alresford will undergo just two cuts this year. Safety margins, ensuring visibility for road users, will be maintained as usual. Verge management is part of the District’s Biodiversity Action Plan and the Council has set up a steering group that includes ecologists and the contractor Idverde. Idverde has invested in a machine which will collect the cuttings or ‘arisings’.

How you can get involved You can take part in this scheme by adopting a section of verge near you and collecting the ‘arisings’, after each cut. Arisings will be collected by the contractor in some areas. Clearing cuttings keep nutrient levels low, boosting the number of wildflowers on your verge. Arisings can be left to dry on the verge for 1-7 days, which allows any flower seed to shed, then composted or placed in your brown garden waste bin.

If you live outside Alresford and have identified a local verge that is rich in wildflowers, you can erect signs asking the contractor not to cut it. Remember to remove signs at the end of the flowering season and ideally collect arisings once it has been cut, to boost the number of wildflowers. Wild Valley Verges (Itchen Valley) have some signs available and if you would like one of these please email enquiries@newleafalresford.org You can also help pollinators in your own garden by participating in Plantlife’s ‘No Mow May’. Plantlife advises restricting mowing to once every four weeks, and when you mow, leaving some areas for taller plants. The highest production of flowers and nectar sugar has been found on lawns cut no more than every four weeks. Our lawns can support between 400 and 4000 bees per day, depending on how they are managed.

No seeding please Some of us may be tempted to reseed verges to encourage more wildflowers to grow, however, there are some important things you need to know first: 1 Inappropriate planting could damage our verges. Non-native species could affect the delicate balance of the habitat and introduction of invasive or unwelcome species is a risk. 2. Winchester City Council have asked that individuals do not reseed the verges as part of this pilot. 3. Cultivating a verge requires a license from Hampshire County Council, which costs £133 for 5 years.

Many verges have existing wildflowers which will thrive when cutting is reduced and natural self-seeding can occur.

Watch this space Keep an eye on our website: www.newleafalresford.org, join our Facebook group New Leaf Alresford and find us on Instagram @newleafalresford for updates on how the trial is progressing.

Please spread the word about this scheme, to help raise awareness around the reasons verges are being left longer locally.

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