The change in Brighton & Hove City Council’s mowing regime has brought some good results. There’s a report about it on the Council’s website. The project, funded by Natural England, is a pilot scheme conducted at 25 sites around the city—leaving verges unmown between April/May and August/September during the main botanical flowering season.
The verges included in the project were identified as prime locations for increasing biodiversity and connectivity—becoming the corridors for nature that link up open spaces, parks and gardens across the city.
To me, the verges managed for wildlife—where the grass is long and the wild flowers grow—look lovely, uplifting even. I know it hasn’t been universally popular. Maybe the verges can look uncared-for or messy. Maybe they need to look more ‘managed’. It’s been quite surprising seeing so many dandelions—their fierce yellow seems to be everywhere.
I’m going to visit more of the verges included in the Wilder Verges Project as the growing season goes on. Spread out across the city, they seem varied in their appearance. Perhaps the decision to let plants grow will become easier for more of the city’s residents and businesses.
