WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Roadside Verges are the result of creating roads. Land which was previously just relatively un-biodiverse farmland, gets transformed into a cut-through with soil banked up on either side. Nature soon recolonises. Sometimes trees are planted and seeds are sown but most is naturally occurring with soil stored seeds surfacing, wind-born and animal-dispersed soon following. Vegetation type changes over time but at the same time road works every now and then, allow the continued disturbance of the soil, causing the cycle to start all over again, meaning no habitat type is dominant for too long and biodiversity to the area overall is higher.

Roadside Verges are the most important areas in connecting up pockets of wilderness. They act as 'green corridors' allowing wildlife access from A to B. These nature-filled arteries are among the last remaining sites where many species (in particular wildflowers), which have been pushed to extinction elsewhere, really get a chance to flourish. Roadside Verges serve a vital role as a safety net for much of Britain's biodiversity.