Wiltshire protected road verges project

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Many road verges are home to a remarkable variety of wildlife. Some are remnants of ancient pastureland, rich in rare plants and insects. Other verges support ancient woodland flora with colourful displays of bluebells, wood anemones and wild garlic in the spring.

These verges are valuable miniature nature reserves, providing a refuge for a range of birds, small mammals and insects and act as important wildlife corridors. As such they have been selected to receive special management so these rich habitats are not lost.

Wiltshire Council works with the Wiltshire Highways Partnership and the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Record Centre to protect and care for protected road verges.

Verges are selected for the scheme only after having met rigorous scientific criteria and are marked on the ground with a post at each end of the verge. Each protected road verge has its own management plan which indicates the best time(s) of year for it to be cut.

Protected road verges are monitored by volunteers. The road verge monitors keep a check on the condition of their verges and are responsible for monitoring the botanical / biological interest. Reports from all the monitors are collated annually and used as a basis for ongoing management of the verges.

Why not become a protected road verge monitor yourself? If you are interested please contact the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Record Centre on 01380 725670 or brc@wiltshirewildlife.org.

For more information about Wiltshire Protected Road Verges please read the Wiltshire Protected Road Verges Leaflet (PDF 687KB)

Last updated: 16 February 2011