16 NORTH EAST WEEKLY 17TH MAY <strong>2018</strong> Road verges: 20% drop in diversity of wild flowers puts bees at risk as plant 'marauders' take over * 'Silent killer' air pollution and poor management have reduced floral richness by nearly 20% on verges * Plantlife reveals the 'dirty dozen' plant marauders that are increasingly rampant on road verges * Wildlife at risk: Red clover and lady's bedstraw - two particularly wildlife-friendly plants - are experiencing the most rapid decline on verges * BUT ALL IS NOT LOST; better management of our road verges could have spectacular results for wild flowers and wildlife, delivering an estimated 400 billion more blooms (or 6,000 flowers per person). A marauding gang of invasive native plants including nettle and bramble) are thriving on a diet of ‘junk food’ and taking over our once flower-rich road verges reveals Plantlife, Europe's largest conservation charity dedicated to wild flowers and other flora. Almost 90% of Britain’s wild flowers prefer lower-nutrient soil but they are being crowded out of the countryside as a result of air pollution creating unnaturally rich conditions, particularly on our road verges. Analysing trends since 1990, Plantlife has identified that our road verges are undergoing a dramatic change with plants that enjoy soil rich in nitrogen - much of it deposited from vehicle exhausts - spreading like wildfire including stinging nettle, bramble, rough meadow-grass, cow parsley, Yorkshire fog and creeping buttercup. The boom of these 'nitrogen guzzlers' is crowding out wild flowers that had found a haven on our road verges, including some of our rarest and most threatened species such as fen ragwort and wood calamint which are now clinging on at a handful of verges, their last remaining habitat. Victims of the changing verge include BRIAN HENDERSON STAR BUY 2015 Citroen DS 3 1.6 D-Style, Grey/Black Roof 22,000 miles, Zero Road Tax.......................£8,995 2014 (64) BMW 320D M Sport, Black, Black Leather, 80,000 miles, SatNav, £20 Tax...................................................................................................£12,995 2014 (14) Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 Exclusive, 7 Seater, White, 38,000 miles...............£6,995 2013 (63) Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 Exclusive, 7 Seater, Black, 38,000 miles...............£6,495 2013 Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Zetec S, 3Dr Hatch, 38,000 miles, Zero Road Tax, 1 Owner......................................................................................................£8,495 2011 (61) Audi S3 Quattro 2.0 T Technology, Sprint Blue, Black/Cream Leather 6spd, Heated Seats, Sat Nav. 52,000mls.................................................£POA 2010 (60) Vauxhall Insigna 2.0 CDTi SRi, Star Silver, 6spd, 80K, 5Dr Hatch.......£3,995 2010 Ford Ka 1.25 Zetec, Black, Alloys, 55K, Rear Spoiler...................................£3,995 2009 (59) Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXi, Grey Met, 39K..................................................£3,995 2009 Jeep Patriot Ltd 2.0 CRD, Black, Black Leather, 6spd, 73,000mls, 1 Owner............................................................................................................£POA 2008 Kia Sorento 2.5 Turbo Diesel XE, Black, Alloy Upgrade, 70,000 miles, Side Step........................................................................................................£4,995 2008 Alfa Romeo 159Ti JTD, Grey Met, Black Leather, 105,000mls.....................£3,495 2007 (57) Volvo XC70 SE Lux DS AWD, Auto, Gold, Black Leather, 120,000mls...£POA 2007 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXi Estate, Star Silver, Only 34,000mls.........................£3,495 VANS 2017 VW Caddy Van 2.0 TDi Highline, White, 1 Owner, Only 9K, Factory Rear Seat Conversion...........................................................£13,995 + VAT 2015 Citroen Berlingo 1.6 HDi Enterprise, Silver, 3 Seater, 70K..................£6495+VAT 2009 Ford Transit 350 MWB, White, 1 Owner, 53K.................................................£POA FINANCE AVAILABLE St Fergus, Peterhead Tel: 01779 838213 * Mob: 07715 176650 wild flowers like tufted vetch, bugle, tormentil, red clover, lady's bedstraw, white campion and greater knapweed. Air pollution combined with decades of poor management has seen the floral richness of our verges decline by nearly 20%. Wanted!!! Dead or alive All types of 4x4s Land Rovers - Isuzu’s - Toyota’s - Ford’s - Nissan’s - etc all types of small commercial vehicles & motorhomes, any make, any year, company or farm used runner or none runner No mot or high mileage, anything considered vehicles will be collected anywhere in Scotland £££ cash payment £££ instant decision Contact me with what you have give me a call 07555 941745 Stewartcommercials@gmail.com
17TH MAY <strong>2018</strong> NORTH EAST WEEKLY 17