Page 15 - br-october-2019

October 2019 October 2019

BRIANTSPUDDLE AND AFFPUDDLE

NEWS

AFFPUDDLE AND TURNERSPUDDLE PARISH

COUNCIL

Affpuddle harvest festival advert
Trialling a new approach to road verge cutting and other
action to support sustainability.
The Parish Council has asked the Dorset Council Ranger service to trial “cut and
collect” on road verges between Briantspuddle crossroads and the B3390. This
means that instead of flailing the verges and leaving the cut material on the
verge to decompose, it is collected for disposal elsewhere. It is early days for this
technique and the current equipment only functions efficiently on fairly horizontal
and even surfaces. However, the Parish Council looks to the longer term potential
of cut and collect to reduce the plant nutrient levels in verges which have built up
over the years because of nitrogen oxides from vehicle exhausts, agricultural
inputs, and the mulching effect of the current approach. Certain plant species
such as cow parsley and nettles thrive in large areas of the verges at present, but
the expectation is that as nutrient levels are reduced a wider range of wild
flowering plants will develop and vegetation growth overall will become less
vigorous. This should result in less need to cut and greater biodiversity overall in the
verges. More attractive verges with richer flora and fauna, safer road visibility,
lower costs and lower emissions are outcomes we are looking to achieve. If
worthwhile gains can be demonstrated, we will look to introduce the approach
more widely.
The Parish Council is mindful of the importance of lowering greenhouse gas
emissions, thereby supporting Dorset Council’s declaration of a climate
emergency in May of this year. The Parish Council has consulted Low Carbon
Dorset on the actions it can take to reduce emissions and is committed to having
representation at events currently being planned specifically for Parish Councils.
The groups who make use of the buildings on land owned by the Parish Council in
Briantspuddle are currently considering whether to approach Low Carbon Dorset
to have their eligibility assessed for technical assistance and possible grant aid to
help them with actions to reduce carbon emissions.

Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle website: www.briantspuddle.info

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