Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey
Volume I: Report and Recommendations October 1995
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CHESHIRE->ECOLOGICAL SERVICES Volume I: Report and Recommendations October 1995
CHESHIRE ^ECOLOGICAL SERVICES CHESHIRE ROADSIDE VERGE SURVEY 1995
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
ROADSIDE VERGES - AN OVERVIEW Threats to Roadside Verges 5 Importance of Roadside Verges 6
ORIGINAL CONCEPT 7
METHODOLOGY 7
CRITERIA 8
EXISTING ROADSIDE VERGE MAINTENANCE REGIME 8
VERGES IDENTIFIED DURING 10 CHESTER CITY COUNCILS NATURE CONSERVATION AUDIT
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 11 Floristic interest 11 Boundaries 13 Butterflies in Roadside Verges 13 Birds on Verges 14 Reptiles and Amphibians 14
NEW VERGES IDENTIFIED 16
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 18
SUMMARY OF ROADSIDE VERGES OF 20 NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE 24 MONITORING AND DESIGNATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 26
REFERENCES 27 LIST OF TABLES
Table I: 9 Rural Mowing Regimes.
Table II: 10 Areas of Nature Conservation Value Identified in Chester City Councils Nature Conservation Audit.
Table HI: 10 Sites of Nature Conservation Importance Identified in Chester City Council's Nature Conservation Audit
Table IV: 13 , Cheshire Roadside Verges Suspected to hold MG5 Communities ) Table V: 14 Butterfly Species seen and their foodplants r Table VI: 16 , New Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation Importance Identified within Congleton Borough Council. r \ Table VH: 17 New Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation T Importance Identified within the Peak Park, l
Table VEft: 20 r Summary of Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation u Importance in Cheshire. _
Table IX: 26 U Recommendation for Notification of SBI and RVNR. m
r LIST OF FIGURES • r Figure I: 12 U Cross-section Through Typical Roadside Verge. P Figure II: 15 t» Distribution of Roadside Verges by 10 km squares. .P Figure JH: 20 Recommended Mowing Regimes for Roadside Verges. P fa.
™ LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix I: 27 Nationally Important Verges in Cheshire Identified in 1973
Appendix II: 28 Existing Roadside Verge SBI's
Appendix HI: 29 English Names of Plant Species Identified during the Survey
Appendix IV: 33 Butterfly Species Observed During the Course of the Survey
Appendix V: 34 Bird Species Observed During the Course of the Survey
Appendix VI: 35 Sample Completed Road Verge Survey Form
Appendix VH: 36 Mowing Regime Questionnaire m
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P © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
INTRODUCTION
Most of the natural vegetation of Cheshire has been eroded over the centuries to make way for agriculture, housing, industry and roads. Roadside verges, particularly those alongside minor and unclassified roads, often represent the last remaining fragments of habitats which have largely vanished. Consequently they can be important reservoirs for a wide range of species of plants and animals.
There are approximately 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) of roads in Cheshire; these offer immense potential for the management of their verges as wildlife corridors and grassland reserves. Some verges already receive sympathetic management as a result of the 1973 Roadside Verge Survey conducted by members of the (then) Cheshire Conservation Trust. At this time the County Council signed the Royal Society for Nature Conservation's (RSNC) Roadside Charter. This survey has not been reviewed in recent years, so the extent or value of this management has not been analysed. In the 1973 survey 90 Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation Importance (RVNCI) were identified and the County Council notified of their locations1. Eight of these verges had been recognised as being of national conservation importance by the Biological Records Centre in 1969. See Appendix I for a full list.
In late 1994 The Wildlife Trusts Partnership launched their Roadside Verge Report, the result of consultations with Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK and their involvement with the management of roadside verges. When completing the consultation document for the report it was apparent that the Cheshire Wildlife Trust held very little data on the subject. This report sets out to rectify the lack of up to date knowledge.
The importance of Roadside Verges has been identified by the Cheshire County Council and Cheshire Wildlife Trust since 1984 by the inclusion of some roadside verges as Sites of Biological Importance (SBI). Details of roadside verges that are SBI's are contained in Appendix II. Although this offers no statutory protection, it does highlight the importance of the verge and can offer some protection through the planning process.
The aims of the 1995 survey were threefold;
• To review the 1973 list of Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation Importance • To revise and update the 1973 list • To prepare a working document for use by the Highways Department of the Cheshire County Council Engineering Department on the management of roadside verges
Funding for the project was secured from the Engineers section of Cheshire County Council, Peak Park Joint Planning Board, Congleton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council.
1JMMay(1974); Co-operation for Conservation of'Rural RoadVerges. ITE. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
ROADSIDE VERGES - AN OVERVIEW
The image of a roadside verge conjures up visions of a wide flowery sward with the occasional mature tree backed by a hedge - or does it?
Nationwide, verges vary from sunken lanes with steep banks, known as holloways, to wide droves and may be bounded by hedges, dry-stone walls or ditches all as stock- proof boundaries. The presence of holloways can indicate a very old road, the sunken lanes provide shelter to travellers from the sun in summer and more hostile elements during the winter months; their verge/banks were usually lined with trees, their roots exposed with cranesbills and ferns growing in the shaded areas. One or two holloways exist in Cheshire, for example Birtles Lane near Over Alderley. Many of these old roads can be traced on ancient maps. Quite often roads or droves would become wider, especially over common land, narrowing off as it passed off the common. With the advent of tarmac and metalled roads, these wider roads would be reduced in width to about a third of their former size and hence the concept of roadside verges came into being. Grass verges then became an important feature, especially in areas where the roads became muddy in wet weather - they provide drier areas for passing on, or where pedestrians could stand out of the way of passing wagons and carts, they were also used for grazing livestock. In many parishes a 'lengthman' was employed to keep the coarser vegetation under control and so led to a r richer and varied wildlife due to the intensive management.
Threats f In recent years many verges have lost some of their original value for a variety of > reasons:
• They are no longer grazed by livestock and have become scrubbed over. ** • Some are cut several times a year not allowing the wildflowers to develop and set seed, so encouraging the courser grasses. • They have suffered from the tipping of: "• • household waste, • garden refuse, • builders refuse. * • Road construction materials are stockpiled on them. m • In some cases, particularly adjacent to public footpaths, the verges have been , eroded by vehicles. • They have been lost by road widening or re-alignment. p • Cuttings from mowing left on the verges resulting in increased nitrates in the soil m which encourages coarser species. • Inadequate reinstatement after maintenance work or installation of services. ^ • Deposit of dredgings after cleaning out of roadside ditches. •>
These threats to our verges have resulted in the loss of their floristic interest and w diversity, no longer providing 'green corridors' connecting fragmented woodland, and * grasslands. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Importance of roadside verges Despite the various threats to verges, many have survived to provide some excellent examples of our varied flora and fauna. Wide verges can offer several different habitats, from short regularly mown areas next to the road, through taller courses grasses to a hedgerow or field boundary at the rear. Some verges may also contain ponds offering another habitat. Nationally over 850 species of wildflower have been recorded on them, of which 35 are nationally rare species. They also provide habitat for many of our butterflies and moths, birds, mammals and reptiles. Many species of birds feed on the seeds of teasel and thistles (Cirsium spp.) in the autumn months. Verges managed for nature conservation interests therefore supply food for species such as Goldfinch and Greenfinch. This diversity of grasses and herbs provide a habitat that is great interest both botanically and aesthetically. Verges provide green corridors between adjacent parcels of woodland, grassland and other habitats and act as reservoirs for plants and animals from which colonisation of other areas can occur. This corridor effect has recently been shown by Vermeulen 2.
Poorly managed verges can also cause problems for some species. A verge which is left unmanaged, allowing the vegetation to grow tall close to the road can provide suitable hunting ground for species such as the Barn Owl. This causes a problem in that owls hunting along the road get drawn into the path of oncoming vehicles, only to be killed or maimed. If a short sward is maintained in areas where Barn Owls are known to occur, then they will be restricted to hunting over the rear of the verge.
It is therefore important that the presence (or absence) of Barn Owls in an area is known about prior to a mowing regime being recommended / established.
With sympathetic management, many of these verges can become havens for many species, becoming Roadside Verge Nature Reserves, as has already happened in several counties including Essex, Lincolnshire, Lancashire and Worcestershire - will Cheshire be next?
2HJW Vermeulen (1994): Corridor function of a road verge for dispersal of stenotopic heathalnd ground beetles Carabidae. Biological Conservation ,69(3), 339- 349 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
ORIGINAL CONCEPT
Initially it had been hoped that local Parish Councils would be involved with the project. A small information pack and request form was circulated to them via the Cheshire Community Council. Unfortunately most Parish Councils did not receive this until late July, long after the survey had commenced. By offering Parish Councils the opportunity to participate in the survey (with appropriate training and guidance) it was hoped that additional verges would be identified and that they could become actively involved with the after care of the verges. This aspect of the project may well be carried out in 1996, subject to sufficient interest from local authorities, Parish Council's and other community groups, and resources being available.
METHODOLOGY
The existing RVNCIs were, each given an individual number and their locations plotted on 1:50,000 OS Maps prior to any survey work commencing. With the exception of 4 verges, the locations of all the verges were plotted. The exceptions were verges 1, 60, 62 and 64 for which the given grid references did not relate to roadside verges. r
The survey of the verges was largely undertaken by Paul M Hill, employed on a contract basis for the project. He was assisted on some visits by Trust Recording Officers, who also undertook to carry out the survey of some verges themselves. (Many of the Trust's Recording Officers found they were too committed with SBI revisions to assist with locating many additional sites above those listed in the 1973/4 survey.)
The actual surveys were conducted on foot, the surveyors) parking their vehicle(s) at to, a suitable point near the verge and then walking the length of the verge and noting the plants present. Two high visibility vests were supplied for this purpose by the County m- Council; these were worn at all times by the surveyors) when walking along a public fcl highway. Vehicles were always parked in lay-bys or off the road, so as not obstruct the flow of traffic or visibility for road users. *
Hk Field survey work commenced in May when most of the listed verges were visited, initially to ascertain their presence and condition. During these visits the width of the m road and verge, road boundaries and evident mowing regimes were noted along with "*• the adjacent land use. This information was completed on the Road Verge Survey form (RSV 3), (see Appendix VI). Flowering plants in evidence were noted on the reverse side of the form. Plants were only recorded on a presence or absence basis - "ll not on the DAFOR3 Scale. Due to the constraints imposed (limited financial and manpower resources), it was not possible quantify the species present in the verges.
^Ranking of abundance - Dominant, Abundant, Frequent, Occasional, Rare IP © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Towards the end of the May surveys, some verges had already received their first cutting of the season, although it was still possible to identify most plant species present.
During late June and July all of the verges were again revisited and surveyed. Grasses were included in the survey at this stage. In addition to recording the flora any obvious fauna was also recorded. This was particularly useful in the case of butterflies with the records were also passed on to the County Butterfly Recorder (Barry Shaw) for inclusion in the forthcoming Cheshire Butterfly Atlas.
Because additional funding was secured from the Peak Park Joint Planning Board and Congleton Borough Council, these areas were surveyed to identify new verges. These areas were surveyed by car with the surveyor examining any verges that were over 1 metre in width, or which showed a visible diverse flora.
Desk top searches were conducted for those boroughs which had produced a Nature Conservation Audit; verges identified in the Audits have been included within the register at the end, although they have not been surveyed. It was considered that to resurvey verges identified in 1993/4 (in the case of Chester City Council) would not have significantly added to the information already available.
CRITERIA
The following criteria were used when determining whether a verge was to be considered as a RVNCI.
Typicalness Rareness Assemblage Aesthetic appeal Importance as food/nectar source for insects
In addition the flora recorded in the verge was compared with that noted in the 1973/4 survey.
EXISTING ROADSIDE VERGE MAINTENANCE REGIME
A simple A4 questionnaire was devised to ascertain the current cutting regime on roads within the county and mailed to all the CCC Area Managers and Borough Council Engineers. A copy of the questionnaire is included as Appendix VII.
The County Council's existing policy for roadside verge maintenance is for 2 cuts per annum in rural areas, where the speed limit exceeds 40 mph and for 12 cuts per annum in built -up areas, i.e. 30 / 40 mph speed limit. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Timings of the cuttings vary a little from area to area, but generally the first cut is taken in late spring (May - June) with the second cut taking place in late summer / early autumn (late August / September). Each 'round' of cutting takes approximately 6 weeks. In some areas a full width cut is carried out in October, but the norm is for partial width cuts of 1.2 metres to be undertaken. Figure I gives a summary of the different cutting regimes area by area.
In some parishes extra mowings are carried out at the expense of the Parish Council and some individual landowners also cut the verges outside of their property. In some instances farmers may take a hay crop from wider verges where it runs alongside their property and others keep the grass short for tidiness. It was beyond the scope of this survey to ascertain who cut which verge and at what intervals.
Area No of Timing No of Timing Cuttings Aware of Cuts- Cuts- removed the Partiai Full 1973/4 Width Width survey Vale Royal None 6 mtoix/xNo JSfo Macclesfield 2 of 1.2mlvi&vn 1 X No No Nantwich 2 of 1.2miv-vi & vn-ix None n/a No No Lyme Green 2 of 1.2mIV-V & VIII-IX None n/a No Yes
Table I: Rural mowing regimes - responses from questionnaire distributed to Highways Engineers.
f k r © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
VERGES IDENTIFIED DURING CHESTER CITY COUNCIL'S NATURE CONSERVATION AUDIT
A Nature Conservation Audit for Chester City Council was conducted in 1993/4, during which several roadside verges were identified as being of importance for nature conservation. As this survey was conducted during 1993/4, the verges were not visited as part of this project, unless they were on the original survey data from 1973/4. The following is a summary of the verges identified in the City Council's Audit. Further information on them can be obtained by contacting their Countryside Officer.
Verge Grid Ref Location Comments Number 8 SJ 453530 Stretton Surveyed as part of the 1995 project 19 SJ 466533 Garden Surveyed as part of the 1995 project 47 SJ 707657 Bickerton Hill Surveyed as part of the 1995 project 102 Dunkirk Lane Between Choriton and Willaston, close to Verge 7 103 SJ 482490 Mates Lane, Hampton 104 SJ 494489 Mates Lane, Hampton 105 SJ 467505 Lowcross Farm to Tilston Lodge 106 Norton Lane 107 SJ 497477 Cross V the Hill, Nr Malpas 108 Shay Lane, Hampton This site is according to the audit is an SBI 109 SJ 450460 Threapwood Triangle1
Table II: Areas of Nature Conservation Value Identified in Chester City Council's Nature Conservation Audit.
Verge Grid Ref Location Comments Number 110 SJ 340719 Shotwick Lane Only County site for Carex divulsa. Also Lathyrus lotifolius present - a county rarity 111 SJ 434509 Castleton Castle
Table HI: Sites of Nature Conservation Value Identified in Chester City Council's Nature Conservation Audit. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ~
Eighty six verges were examined as part of the 1994 survey, including 79 identified in 1973/4 survey. The new verges were identified whilst travelling between sites, and not explicitly looked for. The number of plants species identified was 170, with the range between 5 and 61 in the verges - an average of 29 species per verge. The actual physical size of the verges surveyed varied from just a few metres long to over 4 kilometres; widths varied from 30cm to over 5 metres. As would be expected the number of different species encountered was highest in the longer verges. The total length surveyed was approximately 50 km; area surveyed was 82,304 square metres or 8.234 hectares. The density of verges per 10 km sq., varied from none to 9 (SJ55 andSJ87). See Figure II.
Floristic interest
Some species of plant were present in most verges, for example grasses such Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata and Holcus lanatus and Hedge Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) and Hedge Garlic (Alliaria petiolata). Several verges also contained species with a restricted range in encountered. One verge contained a plant not encountered anywhere else in ^ Cheshire - Round-leaved Cranesbill (Geranium rottmdifolium). The identification of this species, in Verge 3 at Burton, has been confirmed by Graeme Kay and Dr Hilary Ash. On calcareous areas calcicole plants such as orchids were recorded. Verge 25 ^ near Little Budworth contains several hundred spikes of Marsh Orchid. Appendix in lists all of the plant species recorded during the survey. r Many verges were notified in 1973/4 because of the presence of Rosa spp or Rubus , spp. in them. No attempt has been made to identify either of these macro-species into individual species because of their complex taxonomy. There are over 75 species of p Rubus in Cheshire and several of Rosa.4 These verges have been retained within the ^ register, although in some instances additional species were noted during the survey, adding to their floristic interest and value. p W- Although the species composition was similar in several verges, very few of them were identical - length and width of verges and their mowing regimes differed, as did P the species composition and diversity. Generally the wider and longer a verge was ** the more diverse and rich the flora. Figure 1 shows a typical cross-section through a roadside verge. P b»
P itai
4Graeme Kay - private communication 1 1 iw © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
ROAD i ZONE A (ZONEB (ZONE C (DITCH [HEDGE 1 Lawn effect ' Short meadov^.Tall herbs for' Aquatic plants'Hedge and i of little i sward with (feeding and 'and animals 'trees, ! wildlife value' wild flowers [overwintering^ ^nesting insects .cover and food
Figure I: Cross-section through typical roadside verge
National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
Although a full NVC analysis of each was not undertaken as part of this survey, examination of the species composition of the verges suggests that they fall into two categories: MG1 - Arrhenatherum elatius grassland MG5 - Cynosurus cristatus - Centaurea nigra grassland
Table IV lists the verges in which the species composition indicated that they represented MG5 Communities4,5:
4Dave Harrnies - personell communication 5J S Rodwell (1992) British Plant Communities, Vol 3: Grasslands and Montane Communities. C.U.P. Cambridge © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Verge Grid Ref Location Number 8 SJ 453530 Stretton Mill 16 SJ 53 8608 Huxley Road, Tiverton 20 SJ 467643 Guy Lane, Waverton 31 SJ 667717 Davenham 36 SJ 6397 15 Hartford 40 SJ 7308 14 Warrington Road, Mere 43 SJ 706625 Warmingham 56 SJ 653486 Baddington 69 SJ 810674 Swettenham 80 SJ 956714 Langley, Sutton 84 SJ 867757 Hocker Lane, Over Alderley 85 SJ 870754 Birtles Lane, Over Alderley 95 SJ 955775 96 SJ 965765 Smith Lane, 97 SJ 972678 Nabb Quarry
Table IV: Cheshire Roadside Verges with suspected MG5 Communities. r Boundaries
The more interesting and valuable verges were bounded by hedgerows at the rear. Along roadsides where hedgerows had been grubbed up the botanical interest was lacking or poor. Some verges originally identified had lost their hedgerows and with them their ground flora. Aquatic vegetation was present along some verges where ditches where present, such as verges 21 and 13. t* r Butterflies on Roadside Verges
Several species of butterfly were noted feeding or egg-laying on plants and grasses on the verges examined. The species most commonly encountered were the Meadow Brown and Large Skipper, although a total of 18 species were recorded. Quite often the verges and associated hedgerows were the only suitable habitat for butterflies in the areas surveyed and therefore a valuable resource. The restriction of cutting a one metre wide strip just twice during the growing season allows the flora in the rear of r the verge to develop and provide nectar and suitable egg-laying plants and grasses. w The most commonly used plants for nectaring were Centaurea nigra and Cirsium arvense, both of which are present in many of the verges. Foodplants recorded during r the survey included Alliara petiolata and Cardamine pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Urtica dioica and various grasses. A full list of butterflies recorded, and their foodplants is given over leaf in Table V:
F © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Large Skipper Various grasses - Phleums, Holcus spp Small Skipper Various grasses - Phleums, Holcus spp Small White Brassica spp Large White Brassica spp Orange Tip Alliarapetiolata, Cardamlne pratensis Green-veined White Alliarapetiolata, Cardamine pratensis Red Admiral Urtica dioica Small Tortoiseshell Urtcia dioica Peacock Urtcia dioica Painted Lady Thistles (Cardus and Cirsium spp.), Comma Urtica dioica, Meadow Brown Various grasses Gatekeeper Poa annua and other grasses Speckled Wood Elymus repens, Dactylis glomerata Small Copper Rwnex spp. Common Blue Lotus corniculatus Holly Blue Ilex aquifolium, Hedera helix Wall Poa annua, Dactylis glomerata
Table V: Butterfly species seen and their foodplants:
Birds on Verges
Several species of bird were noted during the course of the survey, the majority of which were hedgerow nesting species such as Whitethroat and Wren. A full list of bird encountered during the survey are given in Appendix V. Two Red Data Book species were encountered, Tree Sparrow and Corn Bunting, both species which are declining in the UK due to loss of habitat and changes in farming practices. Action Plans for both of these species are being prepared for Cheshire by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust as part of the Cheshire Biodiversity Challenge.
Reptiles and Amphibians. Only one species of reptile was seen, a Common Lizard basking in the sun on a wall along Verge 22. A single Common Frog was found in Verge 29. Unfortunately several frog corpses were found in the same verge; lacerated by the blades on mowing machines. Small mammals will run in front of mowing machinery and avoid injury, but frogs jump upwards into the path of the blades. There does not appear to be a solution to this problem other than walking the verge before cutting and removing any amphibians found - very labour intensive. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
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kr p
Figure II: Distribution of Roadside Verges by 10km Squares
15 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
NEW VERGES IDENTIFIED DURING SURVEY
During the project the Peak Park and Congleton were also surveyed to identify verges not included in the original survey, but that now warranted inclusion. Other verges that were brought to our attention during the summer were also examined if time permitted Hampton, Larkton and Edge Parish Council drew the presence of several good verges in their Parish to our attention - these were not surveyed as they have been included within the Chester City Council Nature Conservation Audit (See page 10).
Two new verges were identified in the Congleton Borough Council area:
Verge Grid Ref Location Justification Comments Number 92 SJ 822625 A534- Polygonum bistorta This species is Near abundant along this Lay-by verge near the lay-by. The presence of the lay-by could warrant the use of this verge, with sympathetic management as a Roadside Verge Nature Reserve 93 SJ 806623 Smallwood Species diversity 21 species were crossroads identified within 50 metres each way of the crossroads
Table VI: Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation Importance identified in Congleton Borough Council
In Vale Royal the floristic interest of a verge at Whitegate has been known about but not documented in the past. This verge was visited on two occasions, the second occasion to confirm the presence of Harebells, for which the verge is known. Unfortunately the verge had been mown prior to the survey, so Harebells were not recorded. 18 species were identified during the first survey, at which time the abundance of rushes and grasses was noted, but no identification was undertaken.
Many of the verges in the Peak Park contained species, such as Sweet Cicely, for which some verges had previously been notified. All of the roads within the Peak Park Joint Planning Board area were surveyed, although many contained no verge, the boundary between the road and adjoining fields consisting of a dry stone wall. This absence of floristic verges makes the safeguarding of those identified even more important as they are a rare commodity in the district. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Verge Grid Ref Location Justification Comments Number 95 SJ 955775 Alchemilla vulgaris The possibility of this been a garden escape could not be ignored, Other species in the verge contributed to the floristic diversity.
96 SJ 965765 Smith Lane Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus 97 SJ 972679 Nabb Quarry Species diversity This short stretch of verge, adjacent to a car park, contains over 50 species of plant 98 SJ 955796 Pott Shrigley Campanula rotundifolia 99 SJ 965712 Trentabank Species diversity This verge is Reservoir adjacent to a well used public footpath, near a CWT Nature Reserve and therefore could be developed as a profile site r highlighting the L importance of roadside verges. Over 30 species L. were identified along the verge. P L
P Table VII: New Roadside Verges of Nature Conservation Importance identified in the Peak Park. P
17 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROADSIDE VERGES OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE
The existing policy of only conducting two cuts per annum on most roadside verges, has undoubtedly helped in the retention of the floristic interest on many of the roadside verges in Cheshire. With some minor alterations to the timings, these cuts can be used to enhance the interest within the verges. For details of Zones see Figure I.
ZONE A: It is appreciated that a swathe needs to be kept to a height of around 200mm for road safety reasons, especially where visibility may be bad on bends, junctions etc., however if the first cut is delayed until as late as possible, for example, until mid to late June, or even omitted, it will allow the early flowering plants to flower and set seed before mowing. A second (or first) cut in late August or early September, will permit the later flowering plants to flower and set seed. Cuttings should be removed from the verge three to five days after mowing. This will prevent the build up of nitrates from the decomposing cuttings, but allow adequate time for invertebrates to leave the cuttings and go into the ground vegetation. Coarse grasses and annual weeds
ZONE B: Except in extreme circumstances - long bends for example - the cutting of this swathe should be reduced to a single cut in late August or early September^ or even later if possible. As with zone A, grass cuttings should be removed.
ZONE C: The swathe next to the verge / field boundary needs only to be cut every two or three years in late August / early September, with alternate sides of the road cut in alternate years.
DITCH: Ditches need to be periodically cleaned out to prevent silting up and to allow for the through-flow of water. Cleaning out should be carried out in sections during the autumn months, preferably from one side. Cleaning need only be carried out every three to eight years. Ideally small stretches should be cleaned out each year, giving a variety of stages of colonisation by aquatic plants and animals. Spoil or dredgings should be moved off site and not dumped on the verges.
HEDGES: These are best cut in the winter when disturbance to birds and other wildlife is less. As this will result in the loss of some food sources, such as berries, it is beneficial if the hedges are cut in rotation, so that a local food supply for wildlife is retained.
Operatives should be encouraged to cut to achieve a height of about 200mm and not to cut into the top soil thereby disturbing root systems and grubbing up plants. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Recent research work by Parr & Way7 and by Mierlo & Groendael8 has shown that the dominance vfAnthriscus sylvaticus can be controlled by cutting in May and then again in August. Similar work in Sweden by Hansson & Pierson9 suggests that grazing after mowing may also be beneficial in suppression of A. sylvaticus. This method of management though is virtually impossible on roadside verges. If this regime is adopted on verges where the species is dominant then the floristic diversity of the verge should increase as the dominance of the A. sylvaticus declines.
Chemicals should be only be used where injurious weeds can only be controlled by their use. It is possible to control thistles by cutting annually just before the flower buds open, although blades should be set at such height to avoid damage to other flower in the verge.
r u ROAD ZONE A ZONEB ZONE C DITCH HEDGE
Figure III: Recommended Mowing Regime for Roadside Verges.
7Parr and Way (1988): Journal of Applied Ecology 25: 1073 -1087, sited in British pi Wildlife 6: 377-378. 8Mierlo and Groenendael (1991): Journal of Applied Ecology 2%: 128-139, sited in British Wildlife 6:377-378. 9Hansson and Pierson (1994): Annales Botanici Fennici3\: 205-213, sited in British Wildlife 6:377-378. 10 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
SUMMARY OF ROADSIDE VERGES OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE IN CHESHIRE
Verge Grid Road District Parish Road Name Length Width No of Number Ref No. (m\ (m) Species 1 SJ Wirral Greasby Irby Mill ns ns ns 253859 Lane 2 SJ C EHesmere Neston CtyPr 20 1.2 5 298782 Port School 3 SJ c EHesmere Burton 1000 1 29 305751 Port 4 SJ Wirral Raby Wirral Lane 310795 5 SJ C EHesmere Burton ns ns ns 312744 Port 6 SJ A550 Chester Shotwick 800 1.2 11 345725 7 SJ C Chester Capenhurst ns ns ns 372739 8 SJ C Chester Stretton WofStn 100 1 34 453530 Hill 9 SJ Chester Cotton 1500 3-4 44 470656 Edmunds 10 SJ c Chester Newton-by-Mai 45 ns ns 473456 pas 11 SJ Chester Chowley Stream to 200 1 18 474564 r/way 12 SJ c Chester Cotton See 475656 Edmunds Verge 9 13 SJ Chester Ounham-on-the- Manley Lane 200 1 29 475723 Hffl 14 SJ c Chester Broxton 45 ns ns 489524 15 SJ Chester Clotton 200 1-3 29 514626 Hoofield 16 SJ c Chester Tiverton Huxley 150 2 30 538608 Road 17 SJ c Chester Tiverton 45 1 44 563608 18 SJ c Chester Wimbolds Hob Lane 200 2 12 litf 475656 TrafFord 20 SJ c Chester Waverton Guy Lane 100 1 31 467643 21 SJ c Chester Dunham-on- 200 1 36 475716 the-Hill 22 SJ c Vale Royal Manley 45 1 50 496721 23 SJ c Vale Royal Oakmere Shay Lane 180 1 17 594677 24 SJ c Vale Royal Cuddington Mill Lane 1000 1 54 596723 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Verge Grid Road District Parish load Name Length Width No of Number Ref No. (m) (m} Snecies 26 SJ C Vale Royal Winsford Mill Lane 50 1.2 26 643689 28 SJ C Vale Royal Little Leigh Willow 100 I 13 607760 Green 29 SJ C Vale Royal Little Leigh Hall Lane 300 I 39 626774 30 SJ C Vale Royai Little Leigh Hall Lane 300 I 39 633783 31 SJ A556 Vale Royal Davenham 300 See 44 667717 sketch 32 SJ B508I Vale Royal Sproston Byley Lane 400 0.3 1 715674 33 SJ C Vale Royal Winsford Bradford 180 1 16 648688 Lane 34 SJ C Vale Royal Wimbold'y 45 3 21 693634 35 SJ A530 Vale Royal Stanthorn Croxton 45 I 32 696696 Lane 36 SJ A556 Vale Royal Hartford 800 5 36 639715 37 SJ C Vale Royal Byley 180 1 19 695716 38 SJ Macclesfield Tabley Inferior Flittogate 180 1.2 44 710778 Lane 39 SJ Macclesfield Mere 180 2 22 724830 40 SJ Macclesfield Mere Warrington 730 3 34 730814 Road 41 SJ Macclesfield Rostherne 90 2 28 756840 42 SJ B5161 Trafford Altrincham ns ns 750861 43 SJ C Crewe Warmingham 100 5 29 706625 44 SJ A533 Congleton Middlewich Booth Lane 200 1.2 5 707657 45 SJ C Crewe Norbury Norbury ns ns ns 553485 Common 46 SJ C Crewe Bickerton 50 1 13 506518 47 SJ C Crewe Bickerton 50 1 17 503523 48 SJ C Crewe Bickerton Harthill 50 1.2 28 502545 Lane 49 SJ C Crewe Bickerton 50 2 28 506543 50 SJ A534 Crewe Bickerton 100 1 15 515538 51 SJ C Crewe Bickerton 100 2 33 517538 52 SJ C Crewe Chorley 583519 53 SJ C Crewe Brindley .100 2 25 583551 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Verge Grid Road District Parish Road Name Length Width No of Number Ref No. (in) (m) Soecies 54 SJ A534 Crewe Brindley ns ns ns 592533 55 SJ C Crewe Sound 100 1 12 619481 57 SJ C Crewe Hunterson 100 1 26 697466 58 SJ C Crewe Stoke 1 12 618567 59 SJ C Crewe Worleston 2 26 652563 60 SJ A534 Crewe Haslington ns ns ns 762550 61 SJ Crewe Dodcott-c-Wksl Smeatonwood 50 2 15 600465 V Lane 62 SJ Crewe Sound Sound Lane ns ns ns 621597 63 SJ C Vale Royal Allostock 50 I 31 743710 64 SJ Macclesfield Lower Peover 45 ns ns 745756 65 SJ B5081 Macclesfield Toft Middlewich 90 1 20 758757 Lane 66 SJ Macclesfield Marthall / 400 2 23 793752 Peover S 67 SJ Macclesfield Mobbereley 600 1-3 43 748822 68 SJ C Congleton Swettenham 90 1.2 806682 69 SJ C Congleton Swettenham 90 2 37 810674 70 SJ C Congleton Swettenham 90 1.2 11 819677 71 SJ Macclesfield Withington 45 ns ns 806713 72 SJ MacclesfieJd Marthall 90 1 15 802763 73 SJ Macclesfield Chelford 18 I 25 830727 74 SJ C Congleton Cranage Primrose 200 1 50 748667 Hall 75 SJ Macclesfield Mobberley Breach See 785825 House Ln Verge 67 76 SJ A537 Macclesfield Henbury Macclesfield 18 2 20 652563 Road 77 SJ Macclesfield Macclesfield Whirley 9 1 21 881745 Road 78 SJ Macclesfield Bosley 90 2.4 24 902638 79 SJ Macclesfield Bosley 90 2-6 50 927656 80 SJ Macclesfield Sutton Langley 180 0.5 30 956714 81 SJ Macclesfield Sutton Hollin Lane 100 1.75 18 931706 82 SJ Macclesfield Sutton Hollin Lane 200 1 54 936700 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Verge Grid Road District Parish Road Name Length Width No of Number Ref No.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING AND DESIGNATION
Encourage Local Parish Councils to 'Adopt a Verge'
Parish Councils will be notified of any RSNCI that exist within their parish and they will be encouraged to monitor them on an annual basis and liaise with any non- statutory cutting agencies, e.g. local landowners. Education of local landowners on the importance of certain verges could dissuade them from regular mowing during the growing season and preserve (or even enhance) the value of the verge. A training programme, using the local community, could be devised by Cheshire Wildlife Trust in conjunction with the Parish Councils to educate and interpret Roadside Verges. Several Parish Councils have already expressed an interest in such workshops.
Incorporate Roadside Verges into the SBI System
Some verges, as already mentioned, are already notified as Sites of Biological Importance. Several of the verges surveyed in 1995 could also be included and CWT Recording Officers are to be notified of their location and encouraged to carry out a full survey for SBI inclusion in 1996 and subsequent years. Table DC lists suitable verges in which over 30 species of flowering plant were recorded.
Adoption of Roadside Verge Nature Reserves
The size and location of several verges, (e.g. near lay-bys or adjacent to public footpaths) identifies them as suitable sites where members of the local community and general public can see their importance and could be adopted as Roadside Verge Nature Reserves. "(See Table DC). A small plaque could be located at either end of the verge to identify it, and safeguard it from accidental cuttting (Figure IV). Roadside Verge Nature Reserve
The Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Cheshire County Council
Engineering Services
For further information contact: The Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Grebe House, Reasehealh, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 6DA. Tel: 01270 610180 Figure IV: Proposed Roadside Verge Nature Reserve Plaque '© Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Verge Grid Ref Consider for Notification as: Number. SBI RVNR 3 SJ 305751 YES 9&12 SJ 470656 YES YES 16 SJ 53 8608 YES 17 SJ 538608 YES 22 SJ 496721 YES 24 SJ 596723 YES 25 SJ 604674 YES 29 SJ 626764 YES 30 SJ 633783 YES 31 SJ 667717 YES 32 SJ 7 15674 YES 35 SJ 696696 YES 36 SJ 6397 15 YES YES 38 SJ 710778 YES 40 SJ 7308 14 YES 44 SJ 707657 YES YES 51 SJ 5 17538 YES 67&7S SJ 748822 YES 74 SJ 748667 YES 69 SJ 810674 YES 79 SJ 927656 YES 82 SJ 936700 YES 84 SJ 867757 YES 85 SJ 870754 YES 86 SJ 864763 YES 87 SJ 876754 YES 95 SJ 955775 YES r 97 SJ 972679 YES YES 99 SJ 965712 YES YES r 100 SJ 965712 YES 101 SJ 482490 YES 102 SJ 494489 YES 103 SJ 467505 YES ft*. 104 . SJ YES 105 SJ 497477 YES IK 106 YES 107 SJ 450460 YES PR 108 SJ 3407 19 YES 109 SJ 434509 YES
IX: Recommendations for SBI andRVNR Notification.
25 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Compilation of this report and the preceding survey would not have been without the financial support of the following organisations:
Cheshire County Council, Engineering Services Congleton Borough Council Peak Park Joint Planning Board Vale Royal Borough Council Warrington Borough Council
Mike Dix, Chester City Council's Countryside Officer, kindly provided access to their Nature Conservation Audit. Melvyn Swallow of Cheshire County Council, kindly supplied two high visibility vests for surveyors to wear whilst on the public highway.
Thanks are also due to the various Cheshire Wildlife Trust Recording Officers and members who surveyed some of the verges and supply their results.
Staff of the following Wildlife Trusts also provided advise and encouragement during the project:
Essex Wildlife Trust Lincoln Wildlife Trust Lancashire Wildlife Trust / Econsult Worcestershire Wildlife Trust © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
REFERENCES and BIBLIOGRAPHY ~
Cheshire County Council / Cheshire Wildlife Trust (1995); 1994 Sites of Biological Importance Register, CCC/CWT Chester. , Hansson and Pierson (1994); Annales Botanici Fennici 31: 205 -213. LG Higgins and ND Riley (1993); A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. Collins. London. ' H Hienzel, RSR Fitter, JLF Parslow (1995); The Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Collins. London. J M May (1974); Co-operation for Conservation of Rural Road Verges. ITE ' Mierlo and Groenendael( 1991); Journal of 'Applied Ecology 28: 128-139. i Parr and Way (1988); Journal of Applied Ecology 25: 1073 - 1087. JS Rodwell (1992); British Plant Communities. Vol 3: Grassland and Montane ' Communities. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. ' Francis Rose (1981); The Wild/lower Key, Warne. Clive Stace (1991); New Flora of the British Isles, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ' HJW Vermeulen (1994): Corridor function of a road verge for dispersal of . stenotopic heathland ground beetles Carabidae. Biological Conservation, ' 69(3), 339-349 r
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p k. © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Appendix I: Nationally important verges identified in 1973
Grid Ref Road Locality Length Species Habitat Types
SJ 538608 C Huxley Rd, Tiverton 150m Pilosella ;/ ' . ,Vi> > TND aurantiaca l SJ 607760 C Willow Green, Little 100m Epipatis \-- l GND,FDM Leigh helloborine SJ 626774 C Hall Lane, Little Leigh 300m GAF, GND, TAF,TND, SAD, LOE SJ 633783 C Hall Lane, Little Leigh 300m Polgonum bistorta TAD
SJ 707656 C Booth Lane, 200m Geranium TND Middlewich pratense SJ 715674 C Byley Lane, Sproston 200m Geranium -,,.*• TND pratense ' SJ 748667 C Cranage 200m TND, GND SJ 78525 C Breach House Lane 6000m 75,
** ' Key to Habitat Types - as used by BRC April 1969
FDM Deciduous Woodland Edge GAF Wet Heath GND Dry Neutral Heath LOE Unshaded Pond SAD Dry Acid Scrub TAD Dry acid Tall herb TAF Wet acid Tall herb TND Dry neutral Tall herb
Appendix II: Existing Roadside Verge SBI's
HUI Grid Ref Location Grade 581 set SJ 5806 11 Tilstone Fearnalls^ * v# .**• B 6 SJ 655492 Coole Lane, Baddington C* SJ 707756 A559, nearHolford B ? Farm, Plumley SJ 434569 Edgerley Lane, Churton B £ © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Appendix ffl: English Names of Plant Species Identified during the Survey.
Species are listed alphabetically by generic name. Names generally follow Clapham, Tutin and Warbury with minor revisions.
Achillea millefolium Yarrow Aegopodium podagraria Ground Ivy Agrop rep Agrostis canina Alchemilla vulgaris Lady's Mantle agg Ajuga reptans Bugle Alliaria petiolata Hedge Garlic Allium ursinum Ramsons Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica Anthriscus sylvestris * Cow Parsley Arctiitm lappa Greater Burdock Arctium minima Lesser Burdock Arrhenatherum elatius Fasle Oat Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort Arum maculatum Lords and Ladies Bellis perennis Daisy Bromus sterilis Sterie Broom Bryonia dioica White Bryony Callanuna vulgaris Heather Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed Campanula latifolia Giant Bellflower Campanula rotundifolia Harebell Capsella bursa-pastoris Sherperd's Purse Cardamine flexuosa Wavy Bittercress Cardamine pratensis Cuckoo Flower Carex divulsa Grey Sedge Centaurea nigra Black Knapweed Cerastium holosteoides Common Mouse-ear P Chamaenerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb Chelidonium majus Greater Cellandine Chenopodium album Fat Hen F" Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Oxeye Daisy Chrysanthenum vulgare Tansy 1 Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Conopodium majus Pig-nut Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Corylus avetlana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Dryopteris filix-mas sens.str. Male Fern Dactylis ghmerata Cock'sfoot Dactylorhiza praetermissa Southern Marsh-orchid Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Endymion non-scriptus Bluebell Epilobium hirsutum Great Hairy Willowherb Epilobium montanus Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium parviflorum Hoary Willowherb Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Festuca rubra Red Fescue Filipendula itlmaria Meadowsweet Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Fumaria officinalis Wild Fumitory Galium aparine Cleavers Galium cruciata Crosswort Galium saxatile Heath Bedstraw Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Cranesbill Geranium endressi French Cranes-bill Geranium molle Dove's-foot Cranesbill Geranium pratense Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Geranium rotundiflora Round-leaved Cranesbill Geum urbanum Wood Avens Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy Hedera helix Ivy Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog Hypochoeris radicata Common Cat's-ear Hex aquifolium Holly Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag Lamium album White-deadnettle Lamium hybridum Cut-leaved Deadnettle Lamium purpureum Red Deadnettle Lapsana communis Nipplewort Lathyrus lotifolius Hairy Vetchling Lathyrus montanus Bitter Vetchling Lathyrus praten s is Meadow Vetchling Leontodon autumnalis Autumn Hawkbit Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass Lolium multifloreum Italian Rye-grass Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus pedunculatus Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil Luxulus sylvatica Greater Wood-rush HI Lysimachia nemorum Yellow Pimpernell Lysimachia vulgaris Yellow Loostrife Malva sylvestris • Common Mallow Matricaria discoidea Pineappleweed © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Medicago lupinula Black Medick Melica uniflora Wood Melick Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury Myrhhis odorata Sweet Cicely Myosotis arvensis Common Forget-me-not Ornithogalum umbellatum Common Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithopus perpusillus Common Bird's-foot Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel Papaver rhoes Round-headed Poppy Pentaglottis sempervirens Evergreen Alkanet Petasites fragrans Winter Heliotrope Petasites hybridus Butterbur Phleum pratense Timothy Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Plantago major Greater Plantain Poa pratensis Smooth Meadowgrass Poa trivialis Rough Meadowgrass Polygonatwn multiflora Solomon's Seal Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese Knotweed Polygonum bistorta Common Bistort Polygonum persica Redshank Polypodium vulgare Common Polypody Potentilla anserina Silverweed Potentilla erecta Tormentil Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil Prunus spinosa Dogwood Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Quercus petraea Sessile Oak Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup Rosa spp. Wild Rose spp. Rosa arvensis agg. Field Rose agg Rosa canina agg. Dog Rose agg Rubus spp, Bramble spp. Rubus idaeus Raspberry Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel Rumex acetosella Sheep's Sorrel Rumex crispus Curled Dock Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock Salix sp, Willow sp. Sambucus ebulus Dwarf Elder Sambucus nigra Elder Scorphularia aquatica Water Figwort Senecio jacabaea Ragwort Senecio vulgaris Groundsel Silene alba White Campion © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Silene dioico Red Campion Sinapis arvensis Charlock Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard Solatium dulcamara Woody Nightshade Solarium nigrum Bittersweet / Black Nightshade Solidago virgaurea Goldenrod Sonchus asper Rough Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort Stellaria media Common Chickweed Symphytum officinale Comfrey Taraxacum officinale agg. Dandelion agg. Teucrium scorodonia Wood Sage Thymus drucei Wild Thyme Tragopogon pratensis agg. Goafs-beard agg Tripleurospermum maritimum Scentless Mayweed Trifolium campestris Hop Trefoil Trifolium medium Zig-zag Clover Trifolium pratense Red Clover Trifolium repens White Clover Tussilago farfara Coltsfoot Ulex europaeus Gorse Umbilicus rupestris Wall Pennywort Umlus glabra Wych Elm Urtica dioica Nettle Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell Veronica filiform is Slender Speedwell Veronica serpyllfolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch Vicia hirsuta Hairy Tare Vicia sativia Common Vetch Vicia sepium Bush Vetch Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet
rid
Ml © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Appendix IV: Butterfly Species Observed During the Course of the Survey
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Small White Pieris rapea Large White Pieris brassicae Green-veined White Pieris napi Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Small Tortoiseshell Aglias urticae Peacock Inachis io Painted Lady Cynthia cardui Comma Polgonia c-album Meadow Brown Maniola jitrtina Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Wall Lasiommata megera
33 © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Appendix V: Bdrd Species Observed During the Course of the Survey
The following birds were noted during the survey using the verges or adjacent hedgerows. Birds seen flying over or feeding in fields adjacent to the survey verges have not been included. The list and nomenclature follow the established Voous order
Little Owl Athene noctua Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Dunnock Prunella modular is Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackbird Turdus merula Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Whitethroat Sylvia communis Chiffchaff Phylloscopus colly bita Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Blue Tit Parus caerulus Great Tit Parus major Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Greenfinch Carduelis Moris Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Linnet Carduelis cannabina Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Com Bunting Miliaria calandra © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995
Appendix VI: Sample Completed Road Verge Survey Form
1 „, 1 ROAD VERGE ,. ,,,...,,.,„, ^"•"f • "" \ 2A- SURVEY jtAtfihtf r ^^( °& JSX Jr'7 ' "1 """"fW /w /5/35 — !: """"MILL LAfoe, cu ^5-S,- :— OA 1 i«h «np wnln br^» i* r? -~" bi $3 ^ j 5" 3 £ 1 M r T " !S£r™t,l ^ 0 -— ™7 !£• -' i. [S- fv r* I i™" « BS'E"^'™"' iSs. - 3r • ^ jM,,ri, M, | | ' ' > " j,, :£.::.,„: t <"'"—" . . 1 1 hi w*lil.ori*.m*™l <;— • " ""h',',',','1 ;'"*\L™?r*" 1 , 7 on*!:,,.. f€ -— IN1MV IIMI max MTARJI " *•"""* ]«,*.«.<_*. ':,P.««I..,..I..I ;u». c1 1 ;7 ™ """"" N" t ""3 „ M *,T UL-TAIIJi ;|ss ,™ 1 Rtf. 7«, s& ^,,,,,,,1::r 1 — r J ! M *S? /— 7- =^ 'fE
3 (.— 't~~~~ S 3. h -" f, %£?< Hsssr.«. NI^^" YtS-ira,: '.'™ "" '™.«. L«_ |v»M~ .U.fcwt,^.- ^ W-brt h,: (u,c ,on,Hr,.tl«~,. of ... If ,«««!*] fV |»|« x- > IwS™ •^s? ^ M b* i r ibfef 1 "~ 1L./ DIW *; | • | | lijtjr F I"'"1™! • " sfi §S 1 ' Vf! I 1 °^i © Cheshire Ecological Services Cheshire Roadside Verge Survey 1995 Appendix VII: Mowing Regime Questionnaire CHESHIRE ROADSIDE VERGE SURVEY -1995 The Cheshire Wildlife Trust Name: Mr R Spicer Address: CCC Depot, 20 Barker Street, Nantwich, Cheshire,,, Tel No,: 01270610400 Number of cuttings per annum on 'A' Class Roads: Full Width: Q MOKJC" Timing of Cuttings: MarQ AprQ Mayd JuneQ JulyQ AugQ SepQ OctQ Partial Width: a Z State Width: a<_ i ii-a/v *- «•v t. w"^^** *-*-». i(M^K i»*^--) •- / . - /1s* Timing of Cuttings: MarQ AprQ MayQ JuneQ JulyQ AugQ SepQ OctQ VO^te/0 (QJ^ Are the cuttings removed? YesQ or NoO/ Number of cuttings per annum on 'B' Class Roads: Full Width: a Timing of Cuttings: MarQ AprQ MayQ JuneQ JulyQ AugQ SepQ OctQ Partial Width: a 2 State Width: a taw Timing of Cuttings: MarO AprQ MayQ JuneQ JulyQ AugQ SepQ OctQ As V'A Are the cuttings removed? YesQ N^r M Number of cuttings per annum on other roads: Full Width: Q lOfrTOe" Timing of Cuttings: MarQ AprQ MayQ JuneQ JulyQ AugQ SepQ OctQ Partial Width: Q 2 State Width: Q I "Z M Timing of Cuttings: MarQ AprQ MayQ JuneQ JulyQ AugQ SepQ OctQ A' Are the cuttings removed? YesQ or NoS Were you aware of the 1973/4 survey? YesQ or NoQ/ Have you been abie to manage these verges sympathetically? YesQ or Comments: Use this space for any additional comments you may wish to make. m Thank you for your co-operation When completed please return this form in the envelope provided to: Paul M Hill, Roadside Verge Project Officer, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Grebe House, Reaseheath, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6DA 36 p, <*»•' P'i CHESHIRE*ECOLOGICAL SERVICES *•• GREBE HOUSE REASEHEATH NANTWICH Ml CHESHIRE CW5 6DA TELEPHONE: 01270 eioiso _