Roadside Verges Transformed Into Wildflower Areas

Roadside verges in 17 villages across Harborough are being transformed into wildflower areas.

The parishes, including Kibworth, Foxton, Great Bowden, Hallaton, Burton Overy and East Langton, signed up to a County Council scheme aimed at boosting biodiversity and encouraging wildlife.

The areas are not normally mown between April and August to allow time for the wildflowers and grasses to reach maturity and provide local species with food and habitat.

Wildflowers which are part of the scheme Pic: Leicestershire County Council

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and green agenda, said: “We’re playing our part in replacing the lost wildflower meadows of the past century and the response from parishes has been really encouraging.

“We’ve lined up a lot more work out in the community this year and we’d love to see more parishes get on board.

“Conserving our natural environment is a really important part of the council’s work as we play our part in tackling climate change and encouraging others to join us.”

The verges in the environment project are also helping pollinators and are in the process of being added to a national ‘B-Lines’ project led by national conservation trust Buglife.

Expressions of interest for the 2023 scheme will be open from July to September this year. Parish councils interested in joining the scheme can contact the council’s environment team at: environmentteam@leics.gov.uk.