We are losing our wildflower habitats
SIR – In response to Morris Pottinger’s recent letter to the editor and as leader of the Caithness Biodiversity Group’s wildflower and bumble bee verge project, I would like to explain the aims of the project.
It is an experiment to look at how we can modify the cutting and management of our roadside grass verges. The aim is to conserve and improve the quality of wild grasses and wildflowers providing a succession of pollen and nectar-rich flowers throughout the spring, summer and autumn.
This will benefit bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects and also provide an aesthetically pleasing roadside plant diversity. The Lyth verge is included due to the presence of the rare great yellow bumblebee as well as a wide range of flowering nectar and pollen-rich plants.
It is widely accepted we are losing our wildflower habitats within the wider countryside through development and land management. We cannot rely on our farmers alone to cater to the needs of wildlife.
Even with agri-environmental schemes to promote farm wildlife, farmers are under pressure to produce meat and crops efficiently and intensively, the recent milk protest an example.
Wildflower areas are increasingly confined to coastal heaths (now under pressure for housing), forest verges, mountain and moorland and nature reserves. These habitats are increasingly becoming isolated, with detrimental effects on the biodiversity of our wildlife.
Road verges rich with wildflowers will provide reliable corridors linking sites such as Mr Pottinger’s clover-rich fields with other sites.
Caithness is not alone in these roadside management trials. Orkney and other Highland areas have had successful trials.
The Caithness project is at an early and experimental stage and, as such, there will need to be adjustments and fine tuning in the cutting regime. As different plants have different cutting needs as well as soil types it is not a one-plan-fits-all and we are in a learning curve at this early stage.
The project will be evaluated for its successes and failures at the end of the summer. Safety issues and concerns, such as Mr Pottinger’s, will be taken into account.
It appears the main concern is the irresponsible attitude of a few speeding drivers using our country roads. Maybe it is here attention should be focused.
With respect to the roadside verges project, I am heartened to have had calls of support for the project and requests to have other verges included in it.
Mary Legg,
Clett Cottage,
Barrock.