Bromley Council is trialling a new, nature friendly, management regime for grass verges at 11 sites across the borough.
By allowing verges to grow, the council expects that biodiversity could be improved in the borough and natural carbon storage could be increased, with the impacts of pollution potentially decreasing.
Grass verges can act as wildlife corridors connecting habitats and greenspaces, increase floral diversity and increase pollinator habitats, which is good news for bees, butterflies, and invertebrates.
The two year trial has now ended and the online survey has now closed. The council is now reviewing the results of these trials and the accompanying feedback from residents, and will be reporting back on this soon.
Be a Citizen Scientist
We are also keen to know about the diversity of species that are choosing the verges as their habitat and residents are invited to share which species they have seen using the QR code.
What are Nature Friendly Verges?
The trial, which started in March 2023, will last for an initial period of two years before the council reviews its impact. We have chosen this two-year trial period as it is likely to take two growing seasons for wildflowers in the verges to establish.
These nature friendly verges last received a cut in Spring 2024, where they were cut on their edge, with ‘picture frame’ cutting and safety ‘sight lines’ cutting during the growing season. In cutting these sites, we have ensure that the cut height is no less than 5cm to safeguard any invertebrates. The next annual cut will take place in either September or October 2024, which will bring about the end of the two-year trial period.
The trials are taking place at 11 sites across the borough, the ward name is shown in brackets.
• Addington Road (West Wickham)
• Beadon Road (Bromley Town)
• Copers Cope Road (Beckenham Town Copers Cope)
• Court Road (Orpington)
• Downs Hill/Ravensbourne Avenue (Shortlands and Park Langley/Bromley Town/Beckenham Copes Cope)
• Northfield Avenue (St Mary Cray)
• Ormonde Avenue (Farnborough and Crofton)
• Pickhurst Lane and Pickhurst Mead (Hayes and Coney Hall/West Wickham)
• Rangefield Road Footpath (Plaistow)
• River Pool Walk (Penge and Cator)
• Warren Road (Chelsfield)
Take a look at our Nature Friendly Verges locations.