Roadside Mowing Reduced to Help Wildlife and Wildflowers

Published on: 11 Jul, 2019
Updated on: 12 Jul, 2019

Cutting frequency of Surrey verges to be reduced – photo Geograph

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

The number of times a year roadside verges are mowed is to be reduced to protect wildflowers and wildlife habitats.

The commitment by Surrey County Council also includes a review of its use of glyphosate, a controversial weed-killer linked to cancer.

Councillors voted in favour of the changes at a full council meeting on Tuesday (July 9, 2019), many speaking passionately about the need to protect the verges.

Cllr Jonathan Essex, who put forward the motion, said the mowing has been done four times a year in urban areas and two in rural roads.

He added: “Glyphosate has been found to kill the bacteria in a honey bee’s gut and without wildflowers bees will have less nectar. This motion looks at the two things together.”

He said a pollinator action plan will “send a signal to how we believe the environment in Surrey” should be managed.

Cllr Matt Furniss

Cllr Matt Furniss (Con Shalford), lead member for highways, amended the motion saying he’d had a “meeting of minds” with Cllr Essex who had agreed.

He said they need to co-operate with the boroughs and districts because they do the work on behalf of the county council.

Cllr Furniss, who works in the organic food industry, said: “I’m sure 50% of people who would like more cuts of the verges to maintain a very neat environment.

“And there is probably another 50% who would very much like to have them longer for the wildlife and the biodiversity.”

Cllr Robert Evans showed a picture of a central reservation area in Rotherham which was a “river” of wildflowers.

Cllr Helyn Clack, vice-chairman of the county council, asked for it to be a “pragmatic solution” because some cyclists and pedestrians use the verges for safety reasons to escape traffic.

She said: “We do need to make sure our roads are safe for people to be able to walk and enjoy and ride their horses and get off the main road as much as possible while allowing the wild flowers to grow.”

The motion was passed with 63 votes in favour and three abstentions.

After the meeting, Cllr Essex said reducing the amounts of cuts can also save money. “Many residents have noticed that where public spaces have been left uncut into July we are enjoying a beautiful array of wildflowers this year. It really makes a positive difference to our environment.”

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