Verges for Wildlife and People

Hathersage Rewilding Group was formed in 2019 as part of Hope Valley Climate Action, with the aim of fostering biodiversity by working with the local community. One of the primary actions that came from a brainstorming session was to make grasslands better for nature. Inspired by Plantlife, the group set out to explore how they could make road verges better for pollinating insects by encouraging nature-friendly management.

Naively, we imagined we’d be dealing with one authority, but soon discovered that County, District and Parish Councils are all involved with roadside verges!

Encouraged by Derbyshire Dales District Council’s trial of reduced cutting frequency of verges and collecting the cuttings, the group took on management of two verges in the village with support of the Parish Council. In 2020, the verges were cut in late summer, the group then raked off the cuttings and sowed yellow rattle seed. The verges are now only mown twice a year, and other locally-collected wildflower seed has been introduced. The diversity of the verges is slowly increasing, and the group have noticed less litter being dropped on these verges.

Our own knowledge and interest about grassland and the creatures that depend on it has grown, and we enjoy working together. Our verge work has drawn us into other projects such as curlew conservation and helping hedgehogs to survive.

The Peak District National Park is a wonderful place for us to live and we are glad to be helping biodiversity to flourish.

Scharlie Platt - Hathersage Rewilding Group