No Mow May Campaign Sparks Debate on Roadside Verge Management

The No Mow May campaign, which encourages people to avoid mowing their lawns and instead allow plant life to flourish, has sparked controversy among drivers who claim that overgrown roadside verges are reducing visibility and creating hazards on the roads. The campaign was created by PlantLife, an international conservation charity, to raise awareness about the benefits of allowing plants to grow and thrive. While councils have a duty to maintain roadside verges, many have adopted the no-mow strategy promoted by PlantLife to benefit wildflowers and pollinators. However, some drivers are concerned that this approach is compromising road safety.

Concerns Over Reduced Visibility

Motorists have expressed concerns about the overgrown state of some roadside verges, claiming that it is reducing visibility and creating hazards on the roads. For example, Colin Dear, a motorist who lives near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, mowed a section of verge he claimed had become overgrown, causing several near misses involving cars. He told Bucks Free Press that he was convinced that if he didn’t do something about it, someone would get killed. Similarly, drivers writing on Sidmouth’s Facebook community page have identified junctions and roundabouts where they claim visibility has been compromised by the council’s decision not to mow the grass.

Survey Finds Drivers Unhappy with Roadside Maintenance

These concerns are reflected in a survey carried out last year by the RAC, which found that drivers are increasingly unhappy with the standard of grass and foliage maintenance on their local roads and blame the practice for the decline in road conditions. The survey also found that more drivers are blaming poor maintenance of roadside verges for the condition of local roads and motorways.

Councils Adopt No-Mow Strategy

Although councils have a duty to maintain roadside verges, they are permitted to adapt their practices. More than 300 local authorities with biodiversity strategies have adopted the no-mow strategy promoted by PlantLife. However, Mark Schofield, road verges adviser at PlantLife, says that a no-mow strategy alone is not what his organisation advocates. Instead, he suggests that councils should manage verges more sensibly. For example, Dorset County Council was one of the first to adopt the cut-and-collect method of maintaining verges. They cut twice a year in spring and late summer but rather than leaving the waste cuttings to rot, where they encourage fresh growth, they remove them or dump them farther back. The verge becomes less fertile, so the grass grows shorter and requires less cutting.

Balancing Road Safety and Biodiversity

Schofield acknowledges that road safety is key and that verge management must reflect this. Tall plants can constitute a hazard for people adjusting their speed to join lanes, pull out of junctions or negotiate corners. The verge must be seen as an extension of the surfaced carriageway and managed to optimise safety. However, Schofield also believes that roadside verges can play their part on a national scale in helping nature’s recovery.

Conclusion

The No Mow May campaign has sparked debate on roadside verge management, with drivers expressing concerns about reduced visibility and hazards on the roads. While councils have a duty to maintain roadside verges, they are permitted to adapt their practices. More than 300 local authorities with biodiversity strategies have adopted the no-mow strategy promoted by PlantLife. However, experts suggest that councils should manage verges more sensibly to balance road safety and biodiversity. The debate highlights the need for a balanced approach to roadside verge management that takes into account both road safety and environmental concerns.