00642 Verges Booklet - Devon County Council

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Adopt a Verge and Public Involvement Some schools in Devon have “adopted” a length of roadside verge as a long-term project to monitor the growth of flora and the effects of wild flower seed mixes.This helps to foster an appreciation of the need to conserve Devon’s heritage. In addition to the interest being promoted in schools, local associations such as amenity societies and Womens’ Institutes are encouraged to continue their involvement in liaison with their respective Parish Councils. It is important to note that Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 refers specifically to the protection of all wild plants and makes it an offence to uproot them without the authority of the landowner or occupier.The Act also gives details of fully protected wild plants that it is an offence to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy.
New Verges Where new verges are created by major road improvements or new road schemes, consideration should be given to the most appropriate action to establish the verge sward. In low fertility situations and where conservation interests are a priority, natural colonisation of the verge is an option. This is particularly appropriate on rocky embankments or where topsoil or sub-soil low in nutrients is used to make up the verge. Where there is a need to establish a sward quickly for visual or stability reasons, or where high nutrient levels are likely to result in weed problems, new verges will be seeded. A low growing, low maintenance grass mix will be used, such as detailed in Appendix C. This should enable the gradual colonisation of wild flowers over time. Where practical, this standard mix should be of native provenance and might be varied through the incorporation of a wider range of suitable native grasses such as crested dog’s-tail, sweet vernal-grass, meadow foxtail or meadow barley. In certain cases, it might be desirable to supplement this with an appropriate wild flower mix. This should be specially selected to suit local conditions following consultation with the County Ecologist. In grazed moorland situations, the normal presumption will be to use a low maintenance mix (or equivalent) such as that detailed in Appendix C. Wherever practical, newly topsoiled verges will be prepared for seeding by creating a fine tilth and then allowed to vegetate naturally for a time. At this point, the decision can be taken on the need for seeding. If seeding is required, the establishing vegetation will be eliminated to achieve a weed-free seed-bed through the application of a broad-spectrum herbicide such as glyphosate. Following further preparation as necessary to create a fine tilth, the ground can be seeded with the selected mix. New verges will be maintained regularly until they are established and free of harmful weeds.This will usually involve four cuts in the first year (i.e. in March, May, August and October) and might require the use of selective herbicides to control weed problems.
Page 1 and 2: Environment, Economy and Culture Di
Page 3 and 4: Contents Chapter 1 Preface Page 5 I
Page 5 and 6: Appendix A Trees for Roadside Plant
Page 7 and 8: This approach also concords with th
Page 9 and 10: Devon’s network excludes roads wi
Page 11 and 12: Devon Road Network Function Mainten
Page 13 and 14: Objectives The Devon County Council
Page 15 and 16: ● to remove leaf fall at location
Page 17 and 18: Within urban areas there may be a w
Page 19 and 20: undertaken on a more frequent basis
Page 21 and 22: Herbicides based on or containing a
Page 23 and 24: Hedge and Tree Maintenance The poli
Page 25 and 26: such as Robins and Blackbirds, that
Page 27 and 28: of any work that is considered nece
Page 29 and 30: ● Allow room for the proposed spe
Page 31 and 32: (i) Planting sites immediately over
Page 33 and 34: (b) Existing trees may be situated
Page 35 and 36: (c) Loosen soil to a depth of 150mm
Page 37 and 38: It should be borne in mind that add
Page 39 and 40: immediate danger on a major route t
Page 41 and 42: ● the work is undertaken in accor
Page 43 and 44: Statutory Undertakers Working on Ve
Page 45 and 46: position in the highway or street.
Page 47: Wildflower and Grass Seed Mixes In
Page 51 and 52: Historical And Archaeological Featu
Page 53 and 54: Litter on Roadside Verges The Envir
Page 55 and 56: Appendix A Trees for Roadside Plan
Page 57 and 58: Species Maximum Height Average Heig
Page 59 and 60: Fig 1.5 To determine the Precaution
Page 61 and 62: Section 141 Restrictions on plantin
Page 63 and 64: Appendix B Harmful Weeds (i) Commo
Page 65 and 66: (iii) Curled dock (Rumer crispus) D
Page 67 and 68: (vi) Wild Oats (Avena fatua) Descri
Page 69 and 70: (viii) Giant Hogweed (Heracleum man
Page 71 and 72: Appendix C Standard Low Growing Lo
Page 73 and 74: Appendix E Sources of Expert Advic
Page 75 and 76: Plymouth City Council, Civic Centre
Page 77 and 78: The Institute of Chartered Forester
Page 79 and 80: Bibliography All publications liste
Page 81 and 82: Arboriculture Research Notes. Arbor

00642 Verges Booklet - Devon County Council

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