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The Telegraph
Wildflower borders will be created on all new major roads in England
All new major roads will have wildflower-friendly curbs that could increase bird and bee numbers, Highways England said. Vibrant road edges will be created as standard on new roads over 300 miles in England, using low-nutrient soils, which will be planted with wildflowers or allowed to grow naturally. More than 97 per cent of meadows have been destroyed since the 1930s amid intensification of agriculture, making the 238,000 hectares of roadsides across the UK vital habitat for pollinators. The NGO Plantlife, which has called for wildflower borders to be standard on new roads, says roadside ‘mini-meadows’ are a haven for many species of wildflowers, as well as reducing air pollution. and provide corridors for wildlife to move. Wildflowers favor nutrient-poor soils, which can prevent them from being crowded out by ‘intimidating’ plant species such as aggressive grasses, dock, and nettle. The Government has committed to building 4,000 miles of new roads by 2025, which could mean substantial new habitats for wildflowers such as bluebells, bird’s foot clover and snow peas. Highways England says it will also review its approach to mowing the edges to better protect wildlife, and hopes to eventually extend wildflower-friendly habitats through pre-existing roads. Plantlife says edges are often cut too often or at the wrong time. The council staff shortage during Covid-19 may have been good for wildlife, as many edges have been neglected. Clare Warburton, Senior Green Infrastructure Advisor for Natural England, said: “This is a sea change in the way roadsides are designed and managed, and could make a significant contribution to the recovery of nature around our edges. “. The new policy follows a successful Dorset Council pilot project on Weymouth Relief Road, where broad chalk cuttings were left bare, with minimal top soil, planted with wildflowers. The edges are now home to more than 140 species of plants and 30 species of butterflies and in the 10 years since its construction. Meanwhile, they have required little or no maintenance. Dr. Kate Petty, Plantlife Road Verge Campaign Manager, said: “Our research shows that nearly half of all our flora grows on our edges, making it an exceptionally important habitat for wildlife, which needs all the help I can get. “
