This verge is being managed to improve biodiversity as part of the County Council/Parish Council verges biodiversity trial. It was surveyed in 2021 by NatureSpot volunteers but we would welcome additional wildlife records from the community, whether plants, animals or fungi.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate that by managing the grassland as a wildflower meadow it can support a much greater diversity of wildlife species. Different species come and go throughout the year so we will get a much better understanding of the biodiversity value of this site if local residents can add records of what they have seen. Please take a photo if possible and include it with your record, using NatureSpot's Submit Records form. Once checked and accepted your record and any photos will appear on this page!

The verge is now being managed differently to help wildlife. Mowing will cease between April and August to allow the grasses and wildflowers to grow and bloom. In some cases, verges will also have additional native wildflower species added, either as seed or as plug plants.

A list of all the species found at the site, together with any images taken, will appear below once the survey has taken place.

Survey findings:

The verge comprises three adjacent sections. These were originally seeded with wildlowers by the developer when the surrounding houses were built. Whilst in most years the grassland has been left unmown during the summer months, in recent times mowing ha resumed.

This is potentially a rich and quality wildflower grassland site with a good floral diversity including notable species such as Black Knapweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Meadow Cranesbill and Cowslip. The verge is however nutrient-rich which is encouraging a few dominant species, such as Cow Parsley and False Oat-grass, at the expense of many of the smaller wildflowers. This has almost certainly resulted from the cuttings not being removed from the site so they have decomposed and enriched the soil. This can be reversed if the cuttings are removed in future.

A 10m patch of Creeping Thistle is growing in the western verge suggesting this area has been both disturbed and nutrient enriched.

A few semi-mature trees are located on the verge, including several Cherry trees and Field Maples. These will shade parts of the grassland but as they are not large trees this should still enable the grassland to develop.