National award for our wildlife verges project

AN AMBITIOUS plan that has transformed more than 70 grass verges around Leicestershire into mini-wildlife havens has won a national award from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The Urban Verge Wildlife Initiative is run by Leicestershire County Council in partnership with NatureSpot. Around 60 parish councils have now signed up to the scheme, which involves volunteers giving up their time to restore and enhance the verges through more sensitive management, including the sowing of native wildflower seeds, natural regeneration and learning about the local wildlife within these important habitats.

Encouraging wildlife

The aim of the ambitious project is to improve biodiversity and encourage wildlife through grassland habitat regeneration, with verges being allowed to flourish between April and September, as wildflowers and grasses reach maturity and provide local species with food and habitat.

Parish councils and community groups are given the opportunity to take over the management of roadside verges in their local area and work to help protect, enhance and retain their value for local wildlife.

The success of the scheme in boosting wildlife habitats and encouraging pollinators including bees, butterflies and moths, has now been recognised by Defra, which has named Leicestershire’s Urban Verge Wildlife Initiative as one of 26 national Bees’ Needs Champions Award winners, in the Community Champions category.

How you can join the scheme

The scheme started in 2020, with just 11 verges, but has now grown to cover 71 verges across 60 parishes. It gives communities the chance to reduce the drastic loss of wildflower meadows, which have reduced by 97 per cent since the 1930s.

Expressions of interest for the 2023 scheme are now open until September this year. Parish councils and community groups interested in joining the scheme can contact the council’s environment team at environmentteam@leics.gov.uk