What could my verge look like?
- Verges are fringe habitats, i.e. remnants of previous land use
- Verges can accommodate a mix of habitats
- The plant species mix depends on the soil type and previous land use
What your verge will look like will depend on what species mix can thrive there. This is determined by the landscape type, soil composition and underlying geology of the area. Whilst it is possible to change the soil type, as in a garden, it takes a lot more money, time and effort, so it is important to understand what conditions you have and therefore what kind of habitat is most achievable in that particular verge.
Examples from around Oxfordshire
Around the river valleys is clay soil – this is claggy, retains the water, slows drainage. These soils are typical of floodplain grazing marsh /meadows
Around Chilterns there is chalk downland (chalk grassland). Chalk and limestone soils are not the same thing but both are more free draining than clay
There is very little acid grassland / heathland / fen rare in Oxfordshire. There are small patches around edge of Oxfordshire e.g. Lye Valley and parts of Shotover Country Park (these aren’t on the map because they’re tiny pockets).
Nutrient rich or neutral soil is usually found on farmland / gardens / housing developments.
In your area, the underlying geology will be as shown on this map, but the top layers of soil may have been changed through human action depending on what the surrounding land has been used for and how it has historically been managed.
Grassy verges
Even seemingly uninteresting verges may provide quite specific benefits for some species. For example, several of our native grasses are larval food plants for some of our butterfly species - such as Yorkshire fog, which is food for speckled wood and small skipper butterflies. Tussocky grass will provide shelter for small mammals and overwintering habitat for many species of invertebrate. A verge combined with adjacent vegetated habitats, such as a hedge, will offer even more value for nature.
Is it ever appropriate to sow a verge with a ‘pictorial meadow’ (picture-perfect) mix?
Non-native flower combinations are generally not suitable for verge planting, although they may be acceptable in a contained urban setting. The name of many packet mixes can be misleading due to the dubious use of ‘wildflower’ and/or ‘meadow’ in the title. It is advisable to buy from a reputable source which lists exactly what is in the mix, and in what proportions. An annual mix requires the soil to be prepared every year (or you may get away with every other year), and therefore practical considerations are also essential. A pictorial meadow may also set unrealistic expectations to the public as to what high quality meadow habitats are supposed to look like!
Non-native flower annual 'wildflower' mix in a garden border. Needs tilling, weeding and re-seeding each year.
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