Road verges - ecological protection scheme

Link: [1]File-List

Damian Fisher
Ext: 4757

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From: Ian C Wood
Sent: 12 March 2009 10:44
To: Damian Fisher
Subject: Draft - Road verges/Ecological Protection Scheme

Dear Susan Davis,

Further to your recent request for information on Ecological Protection
schemes for road side verges I can offer you the following information.

I can confirm that for a number of years now we have been working closely
with the `Wharfedale Naturalists Society' in an effort to cultivate wild
flower areas along the roadside. These include central islands, roadside
verges and roundabouts which were `plug planted/seeded by the society some
years but they also include many species that have grown naturally. The
working partnership has been done to a great success with the areas being
a mass of colour from early spring onwards.

The areas are left relatively unmaintained, which has helped the plants
develop and are only cut once a year with the bulk of the grass being
raked off, this is usually carried out around September/October time and
is dependent on weather conditions and when the society feels that it
would be of the most benefit to the areas for seeding etc. We tend to meet
with President of the society once a year and are regularly in contact
with them throughout the season to discuss ongoing operational issues.

All the verge areas in question are situated around the village of Burley
in Wharfedale, mainly concentrated on the by-pass and the approaches into
the village itself, which are the A65 and A660, Ilkley Road and Bradford
Road, (grid ref: 162469 and 174453).

I believe that the areas were chosen to be dedicated `wild flower verges'
as they were high profile sites on the fringe of the village which would
have major visual impact, and could be taken out of the regular
maintenance schedule without causing a detriment to the local environment.
Indeed, in implementing this project it is fair to say that the area,
which is rural, has certainly been enhanced by the natural seasonal
display that now occurs.

Please find below a list of the species now found on most of the sites:

Creeping Buttercup - Ranunculus repens

Meadow Buttercup - Ranunculus Acris

Birdsfoot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus

Red Clover - Trifolium pratense

White Clover - Trifolium repens

Oxeye Daisy - Leucanthemum vulgare

Common Knapweed - Centaurea nigra agg

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale

Self Heal - Prunella vulgaris

Wild Carrot - Daucus carota

Ribwort Plantain - Plantago lanceolata

Common Mouse-ear - Cerastium fontanum

Daisy - Bellis perennis

Northern Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza purpurella

Kidney Vetch - Anthyllis vulneraria

Bush Vetch - Vicia sepium

Common Vetch - Vicia sativa

Marjoram - Origanum vulgare

Hoary Plantian - Plantago media

Yarrow - Achillea millefolium

Quaking Grass - Briza media

Bladder Campion - Silene vulgaris

Field Scabious - Knautia arvensis

Hairy St. John's Wort - Hypericum hirsutum

I trust that the above is of assistance to yourself but should you require
any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this reply you may ask for a review of this
decision by contacting [2][Bradford City Council request email] or by writing to Freedom of
Information, 4^th Floor, Jacobs Well, Bradford BD1 5RW.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review you
have the right of appeal to the Information Commissioner who can be
contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545700

URL: [3]http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Regards

Ian Wood

Grounds Maintenance Manager

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01C9A2FF.72B933B0
2. mailto:[Bradford City Council request email]
3. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/

Dear Ms Davis,

Further to your recent request for information on Ecological Protection
schemes for road side verges I can offer you the following information.

I can confirm that for a number of years now we have been working closely
with the .$B!F.(JWharfedale Naturalists Society.$B!G.(J in an effort to
cultivate wild flower areas along the roadside. These include central
islands, roadside verges and roundabouts which were .$B!F.(Jplug
planted/seeded by the society some years but they also include many
species that have grown naturally. The working partnership has been done
to a great success with the areas being a mass of colour from early spring
onwards.

The areas are left relatively unmaintained, which has helped the plants
develop and are only cut once a year with the bulk of the grass being
raked off, this is usually carried out around September/October time and
is dependent on weather conditions and when the society feels that it
would be of the most benefit to the areas for seeding etc. We tend to meet
with President of the society once a year and are regularly in contact
with them throughout the season to discuss ongoing operational issues.

All the verge areas in question are situated around the village of Burley
in Wharfedale, mainly concentrated on the by-pass and the approaches into
the village itself, which are the A65 and A660, Ilkley Road and Bradford
Road, (grid ref: 162469 and 174453).

I believe that the areas were chosen to be dedicated .$B!F.(Jwild flower
verges.$B!G.(J as they were high profile sites on the fringe of the
village which would have major visual impact, and could be taken out of
the regular maintenance schedule without causing a detriment to the local
environment. Indeed, in implementing this project it is fair to say that
the area, which is rural, has certainly been enhanced by the natural
seasonal display that now occurs.

Please find below a list of the species now found on most of the sites:

Creeping Buttercup - Ranunculus repens

Meadow Buttercup - Ranunculus Acris

Birdsfoot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus

Red Clover - Trifolium pratense

White Clover - Trifolium repens

Oxeye Daisy - Leucanthemum vulgare

Common Knapweed - Centaurea nigra agg

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale

Self Heal - Prunella vulgaris

Wild Carrot - Daucus carota

Ribwort Plantain - Plantago lanceolata

Common Mouse-ear - Cerastium fontanum

Daisy - Bellis perennis

Northern Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza purpurella

Kidney Vetch - Anthyllis vulneraria

Bush Vetch - Vicia sepium

Common Vetch - Vicia sativa

Marjoram - Origanum vulgare

Hoary Plantian - Plantago media

Yarrow - Achillea millefolium

Quaking Grass - Briza media

Bladder Campion - Silene vulgaris

Field Scabious - Knautia arvensis

Hairy St. John.$B!G.(Js Wort - Hypericum hirsutum

I trust that the above is of assistance to yourself but should you require
any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this reply you may ask for a review of this
decision by contacting [1][Bradford City Council request email] or by writing to Freedom of
Information, 4^th Floor, Jacobs Well, Bradford BD1 5RW.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review you
have the right of appeal to the Information Commissioner who can be
contacted at:

Information Commissioner.$B!G.(Js Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545700 URL:
[2]http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Damian Fisher,

Principal Officer,

Street Scene.

Sue Wilson
Support Officer to Ian Bairstow, Strategic Director of Environment &
Neighbourhoods

Environmental Health .$B!|.(J Neighbourhood Support Service .$B!|.(J
Waste and Street Scene

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council - 6th Floor, Jacobs Well,
Bradford BD1 5RW

T 01274 434748
E [email address]
W www.bradford.gov.uk

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Bradford City Council request email]
mailto:[Bradford City Council request email]
2. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/