Durham Road Verge Project

The wildlife value of roadside verges has been recognised for some time. They are often the only remaining areas of semi-improved or wildflower-rich grassland still present in the modern landscape. Even these verges are now under threat from neglect or excessive mowing.

In 2001 the Durham Biodiversity Partnership embarked on a project to identify some of the areas best road verges in Weardale, Upper and Lower Teesdale and Derwentside. Four reports highlighting these verges and detailing their wildlife value were produced.

You can download the reports in PDF format here:

• Weardale
• Upper Teesdale
• Lower Teesdale
• Derwent Valley

Since then survey work has continued across the Durham area, and is currently ongoing in the Durham Magnesian Limestone Natural Area as part of the MAGical Meadows Project. So far surveyors have identified 177 Road Verges of Conservation Importance.

Finding these verges is one thing - looking after them is quite another! We have already drawn up brief management prescriptions for all these verges and will be working with the local authority highways departments to find ways of changing current management.

However, there are a number of barriers to a change in management in some areas, chiefly the problem of how to dispose of the grass cuttings from an annual cut at the end of the summer. We would love to hear from any landowners and farmers near to these road verges, who have the facility to compost green hay.