00642 Verges Booklet - Devon County Council

account of local flowering and
seed climax, unless there are
exceptional circumstances to
prevent this. In a normal growing
season the rural cutting
commences with major road
visibility areas during mid May.
The rural verge grass cutting
policy encourages a varied habitat
across the verge with smaller wild flowers in the cut strip and the
remaining uncut area permitting the growth of taller species that
encourage wildflowers, insects, butterflies, birds and small mammals.
(iii) Circumstances when grass cutting standards can
be modified where relevant to (i) &(ii) above
(a) Visibility areas, i.e. approaches to traffic signs and around street
furniture where more frequent cutting may be necessary for
road safety;
(b) Where it is necessary to cut verges and slopes to obviate a fire
risk;
(c) Where infestations of harmful weeds occur, and additional
cutting is required;
(d) Where it is necessary to gain access to hedgebanks and back
ditches for cleaning and maintenance or to other structures or
services required for the proper functioning of the highway;
(e) Where rare species, which require special protection, occur and
where fine stands of wild flowers (such as orchids, bluebells,
primroses etc.) exist, they should be left until they have seeded
(see also Chapter 9 - Special Verges);
(f) In exceptional circumstances where it is necessary for people to
walk or equestrians to ride a width of two metres will be cut;
(g) No early cut is to be carried out on moorland roads where cut
bracken may harm animals;
(h) It may be desirable, in some locations, for a full width cut to be