DISMAY at the laying waste of rare wild flowers on Tynedale‘s grass verges and roundabouts may lead to the highways authorities being taken to task.

Environmental group South Tyne Sustainability is compiling data on the destruction of roadside plants in the district, either by inappropriate weed spraying or mowing.

There was outrage earlier this year when gang mowers swept over the Bridge End roundabout at Hexham, destroying rare orchids and cowslips before they had had the chance to bloom and spread their pollen.

Now STS is conducting its own survey of grass verges, its first foray identifying no fewer than 50 different species on the edge of a minor road just north of Caw Gap near Haltwhistle.

Spokesman Sue Seymour said: “We would like to hear from anyone who notices inappropriate verge management.

“We will use this information, together with data collected on our verge walks, to challenge our council and highways managers to conform to their own policies which, in line with the Countryside and Rights Of Way Act of 2000, require public bodies to show regard to conserving biodiversity in all their actions.

“The National Pollinator Strategy for England, published earlier this year, recognises the valuable role of verges as a resource for pollinators and, as part of this strategy, the Highways Agency has committed to restore and enhance 3,500 ha of verges by 2021.

“However, there is little evidence of enlightened verge management on some of the major roads in our area.”

Sue is urging members of the public to sign Plantlife’s petition at www.plantlife.org.uk/roadvergecampaign. She can be contacted at sue@mosspeteral.com