As the snowdrops seed-heads begin to form, and the
daffodils and primroses are in full
splendour,
the Life on the Verge Biosphere Project,
made possible by National Lottery
players
through the Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF),
has been busy finalising the dates for its
summer programme of free plant identification courses.
These
courses
are
a key part of the
project’s ambition to coordinate a network of volunteers to identify, restore
and manage
species-rich verges across the North Devon Biosphere.
A number of ‘special verges’
along roads or other public right of way
have already been
identified by Devon County Council and
require
re-surveying as most haven’t been surveyed
for several years. Elsewhere there are likely to be many
other verges
known to local people
for their summer displays or particular species of interest which could also be included in the
project
or a
less interesting but prominent Parish
verge
which
could benefit from
‘livening-up’.
In addition to a splendid
display of
flowers and enhanced provision for native pollinators
under threat,
species-rich verges need cutting only once or twice per year, which
may
help
reduce maintenance costs for verges
managed by parish or town councils.
Co-ordinator Clare Manning
said
‘After ensuring all volunteers are aware of necessary
Highways Safety provisions to keep them safe,
the first step in our project
is to get out and
survey verges to
identify which
are already in wildlife rich and in good condition and which
will need
more significant
practical
management to restore or create wildlife interest.
Verge
surveying will form an ongoing part of the project in order to assess the impact of practical
management we undertake. Whilst our current focus is to establish our survey programme
this summer, we have exciting plans developing for practical activities later in the year.
I
would encourage people to get in touch if they know of a verge that could benefit from the
project, or are simply interested in volunteering with the project’.
The
free plant identification and survey training
sessions
are
located
across the
Biosphere Reserve to minimise travel distances for volunteers as far as possible. Training
dates are:
- May 30th 5.30-8.30pm at Fremington Quay
- June 3rd 2-5pm at Meeth Quarry Nature Reserve
- June 10th Winsford Bridge East (meet at Arlington Court carpark) 2pm - 5pm
- July 1st at Marsland Nature Reserve 2pm-5pm
- July 12th Meshaw Nature Reserve (near Rackenford) 5.30-8.30pm .
To book or express interest in the project contact Project Coordinator Clare Manning on
07392 239719 or email
verges@tarkacountrytrust.org.uk
Adrian Culley, manager of Marsdens Devon Cottages which is raising money for the project
by asking anyone who books a holiday through the agency to donate £1 said
‘Though it can
sometimes be easy to take floral displays on our roadside verges for granted, they have a
positive impact on our lives; whether you are local person or tourist, it’s hard not to feel
uplifted when you walk, cycle or drive past a verge bursting with life and colour during spring,
summer and early autumn.’
Dave Edgcombe from North Devon
Coast AONB said
‘Having lost 97% of our species-rich
grassland since the 1930s, verges along our roads and other public rights of way are one of
the few remaining places where our native wildlife can thrive. But species-rich verges do
need to be managed to prevent dominant
species and scrub from out-competing our
wildflowers and that’s where Life on the Verge Biosphere
Project
comes in, supported by a
grant from our Sustainable Development Fund’
Other project supporters are Devon County Council Highways, The Devon Biodiversity
Records Centre and The North Devon Biosphere Service and Biosphere Foundation.
Tarka Country Trust was set up in March 1999. Following a successful application to the
Millennium Commission, the Trust ran the Tarka Country Millennium Awards from 2000 to
2004. The Objectives of the Trust are:
- To preserve for the benefit of the public the natural features of northern Devon whilst respecting any historical features.
- To advance the education of the public about conservation and the protection of the environment in northern Devon.
