WHAT ARE ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVES?

They are roadside verges, which have been specially designated because they contain a scarce or declining Kent habitat such as, ancient woodland or chalk grassland. A few sites are designated for a particularly rare or unusual species, for example, early spider orchid found on a Folkestone verge.

Roadside Nature Reserves (RNR), by their very nature tend to be linear habitats. This makes them particularly important as biological/ecological corridors for many species, especially insects and small mammals. The additional importance of roadside verges is that they support a large number of native grassland species, which have largely avoided the applications of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers.
An ideal roadside nature reserve may have a mosaic of habitats supporting a variety of species. A hedge might provide nesting sites for farmland birds and corridors for small mammals such as dormice. Scattered shrubs/scrub provide refuge for birds and invertebrates. Areas of open grassland with a variety of sward heights will provide a vital habitat for insects, including butterflies. For example, on a chalk grassland verge, silver spotted skipper, Adonis blue and chalkhill butterfly prefer the short sward and bare chalk whilst marble white butterfly prefer long tussocky grass.

In the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) we are fortunate to have a number of RNRs, mostly on chalky soils. In the spring and summer, these verges become a riot of colour with a profusion of chalk flora, which attract a colourful array of butterflies. Many of the chalk verges also contain several species of orchid including pyramidal, man and fragrant orchid.

On some chalk banks, late in the summer you may be lucky to see the unusual autumn gentian or delicate autumn lady’s tresses. In autumn a display of brightly coloured fungi may also be seen on roadside verges.

Woodland verges are usually at their most colourful in the spring before the leaves on the trees are fully open. Primroses, violets and wood anemones provide an early splash of colour.

Signs on posts are used to mark RNRs. A management plan is written geared towards conserving and enhancing the diversity of the site. In most cases, this will involve one or two full width cuts of the verge each year in the autumn and possibly the spring, depending upon the species present. Cutting is avoided during the summer months when most plants are in flower.

Liaison between the Roadside Verge Officer and the Council Highway Units is vital to ensure the success of the Project. Where possible, each RNR will have a volunteer warden to keep an eye on the verge, checking and counting species and reporting back on when cuts have been carried out. Some RNRs require additional scrub management and this may be carried out by one of the Countryside Management Projects, the respective Highway Unit or a scrub clearance team.

The Roadside Verge Project was started in 1994 and is funded by Kent County Council and managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. Contact the Road Verge Officer if you know of a verge of potential interest or if you would like to become a volunteer warden on 01622 662012 or by e-mail: gill.tysoe@kentwildlife.org.uk