Cheshire East Highways supports rural grass cutting campaign

Cheshire East Highways has signed up to support a national campaign that advocates careful management of rural grass verges to benefit wildlife conservation.

The Plantlife road verge campaign, fronted by TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, recognises that grass verges on rural roads provide a rich habitat for vast amounts of wildlife.

The campaign aims to ensure that road verges are managed for wildlife whilst being safe for motorists. It recommends that rural road verges are only cut more than once a year if this is required for road safety.

Cheshire East's grass cutting programme, which started in May and continues until the end of June, supports the principles of the campaign.

Rural verges in Cheshire East are also cut in a single 1.2 metre wide swathe from the roadside, allowing for grass at the back of the verge to be retained for wildlife.

Requests for rural verges not to be cut for conservation purposes are also considered on a case-by-case basis.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "This approach to grass cutting ensures that rural verges do not create a road safety hazard and that they can thrive with diverse and interesting wildlife."

Further information on 'Alan's Army' and the rural verge campaign can be found at plantlife.org.uk.

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Cheshire East Council
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

DELETED ACCOUNT
Saturday 30th May 2015 at 12:46 pm
Here I was thinking that our Council could not afford to cut the verges and cut back the overhanging trees when, in fact, it is all part of their encouraging wildlife policy. Soon some of the verges will be so overgrown with dandelions and tall grasses that it will resemble the Prairie or Savannah.
Julie Green
Sunday 31st May 2015 at 11:35 am
I presume this is to preserve all the wildlife which has no other place to go once the green fields have been built on?
Kathryn Blackburn
Monday 1st June 2015 at 10:12 am
Got it in one Julie.