A formal proposal has been made to Weston under Penyard Parish Council to restore a wild flower road verge along a section of the A40.

Local resident, Helen Morris, has enlisted the help of Paul Rutter of Plantlife, who is already working with Herefordshire County Council on similar projects countywide and the project is also supported by William Wilding, the Ward Councillor. 

Plantlife charity is an organisation keen to see wild flowers growing again along the road verges but for the restoration to be successful a number of steps are required. They need support and agreement from the Parish and the County Highways Department. They will need to recruit members of the local community to assist in this work and keep costs to a minimum.

A method of removing vegetation must be agreed, as well as finding a suitable disposal site for the removed material.

The ground must also be prepared by scarifying and compacting the soil to establish a good seed base.

Many wild plants will already be present but have become crowded out under more vigorous plants, so some time should be allowed the first spring and summer for plants to naturally regenerate or to seed naturally.

The plants including fine grasses will take a few years to become well established and any weed species can be uprooted or cut off frequently, initially, to remove them.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here