Page 30 - br-sep-2021

September 2021 September 2021

also saves time and reduces fuel consumption, further aiding the environment. you are interested in getting your name on the list for the Christmas show.
Dorset Council now cut the B and C class rural road network once instead of You must be available every Thursday and on the dates of the show below
twice. Previously all rural roads (40 mph and above) received two cuts per year
with a side arm flail. This is now reduced to one cut, from late June /July onwards.
This ensures not all the verges are cut in a similar time and many flowers complete Performers Group Christmas Show Rydall High Christmas
their life cycles uninterrupted before cutting.
Prom at the Village Hall…
We are creating verges which have been designated Sites of Nature
nd
Conservation Interest (SNCIs) by Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT). Working with DWT, we Thursday 2 December 6pm#
hope to create, by good management, more verges of SNCI quality due to the Friday 3 December 7pm
rd
diversity of herbaceous species present. Some verges already have high
biodiversity value. These are known as “conservation verges”. These verges avoid Saturday 4 December 2pm
th
the first cut and are then cut as usual later in the summer.
We will be doing a Christmas performance on the above dates more details to
This package of measures follow on tickets and charity
ensures that biodiversity can
thrive on more of our verges Have you checked out our Pop In Place website popinplace.org
each year. While we have
reduced cutting, it is Bere Regis Food Bank
important to remember that
for wildflowers to exist on our Thank you so much for the food donations we really appreciate them, currently
verges, they will still need we are operating a collection service on Friday mornings and we are supporting
some cutting. Too little cutting about 11 families. If you are struggling and need help please get in touch with us.
results in verges turning to popinplace@gmail.com
bramble and scrub, which
would prevent wildflowers
from living on our verges. For more details about any of the above or to find out about volunteering phone
Many may think it is a paradox, but if we want good populations of wildflowers, Alison Bennett 01929 47023
we will inevitably need to sometimes cut verges with wildflowers present. The vast
majority of any cut flowers will soon bloom again between cuts, so don’t be too
alarmed if you sometimes see mowers cutting verges where wildflowers are
present.

Some urban verges are still cut conventionally 5 or 6 times a year using mowers
that leave the clippings behind to decompose into the soil. Over time we hope to
reduce this method and move to more “cut and collect” mowing on the urban
verges, reducing the number of cuts and collecting the clippings. Please note it is
dangerous to maintain verges, and members of the public should avoid doing it
themselves. However, if you or a group are interested in performing maintenance
tasks in your community, then please contact our Coast and Countryside service.
Control of weeds on highway hard services, e.g., kerb edges, is done with a
biodegradable herbicide. This work is carried out once or twice a year during the
growing season. This helps reduce weeds and maintain the integrity of Highway
infrastructure.

30 47