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'Road verges - ecological protection scheme'.
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| ROADSIDE VERGE CLASSIFICATION - FINAL DRAFT, NOVEMBER 2008 | |||||||||||
| NATURE CONSERVATION VALUE | MANAGEMENT | OTHER CONSIDERATIONS | |||||||||
| SSSIs Verges of national nature conservation importance. Estimated proportion - <1% | SSSI verges likely to benefit from ongoing special management. May be selected as Roadside Nature Reserves (RNRs) | Legally protected. Boundary information held on GIS. Natural England consent needed for management regime/ any other works. | |||||||||
| LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES Verges of substantive nature conservation value in a county context: at least 8 LWS indicator plants present. Estimated proportion - <5% | LWS verges likely to benefit from ongoing special management. May be selected as RNRs | Annual report required by central government (NI 197). Boundary information held on GIS. Management through RNR scheme or special arrangement with contractor. Consultation prior to any other works in order to minimise impact (NRSWA). | |||||||||
| Undesignated verges of some nature conservation value eg 2 – 7 LWS indicator plants present or adjacent to or linking SSSI/LWS. Enhancement possible if management improved. Estimated proportion - 10-15% | A proportion of undesignated verges would benefit from 'capital' management work (eg scrub clearance, introduction of appropriate, native grassland species) and/or ongoing special management. May be selected as RNRs if special management would help them meet LWS criteria | In particular cases, management through RNR scheme or special arrangement with contractor. If additional resources were to become available, there would be scope for restoration of a significant proportion of these verges. LERC will maintain database of verges in this category. | |||||||||
| Verges of little current nature conservation value. Vegetation predominantly coarse grasses, common broad-leaved plants (eg thistles, cow parsley, hogweed) and/or scrub or frequently mown 'amenity' verges. LWS indicator plants may be present, but not in significant quantity. Estimated proportion - c80% | No special management requirements proposed at this time | If additional resources were to become available, there would be scope for restoration of a proportion of these verges. However, priority should normally be given to the other categories of verge. | |||||||||
| Total length of verge in Lincolnshire - c17,000 km | |||||||||||
| Roadside Nature Reserves (RNRs) - verges managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust under an agreement with LCC. Verges selected on the basis of their wildlife value and need for special management | |||||||||||
| to maintain/enhance the wildlife dependent on them. 64 verges currently designated as RNRs, a total length of 85.6 km: a proportion of these are SSSIs/LWSs. It is expected that all RNRs will meet LWS criteria. | |||||||||||
| Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) - 5 verges currently designated as SSSIs, a total length of 13.3 km. No additional designations likely in near future | |||||||||||
| Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs) - 6 verges currently designated as LWSs, a total length of 7.5 km. Additional designations likely as LAs complete surveys in connection with their LDFs & other surveys are undertaken. | |||||||||||
| Undesignated verges of some nature conservation value - extent unknown, but where detailed study was carried out within the Limewoods area, approx 17% of the total fell into this category. | |||||||||||
| Verges of little current nature conservation value - extent unknown, but the most common category of verge. | |||||||||||