Grass verge cutting

Fri 17 Apr, 12:26

Very helpful Anne, thank you. So some cutting can be helpful...but it sounds like cutting in early summer/late spring (as seems to be the case here) can be the worst time for some of our rarer summer flowers.

Thu 16 Apr, 22:47

This may be of interest to some to consult here: it is certainly very relevant!

https://www.plantlife.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Good_verge_guide_2021.pdf

Wed 15 Apr, 09:44

I live opposite said verge and the daffodils have been magnificent. In all the present awfulness it is good to remember that there has been a change to the better with spring flowers. We came to Charlbury in 1979 and soon after that one of the last houses in Chadlington had masses of daffodil planted on their very wide verge. Many of us made detours to see them. Then, much later, Chilson had a group daffodil planting from one end of the village to the other and they still look great. Now ours are great too, especially Nine Acres Lane. Also, cowslips had practically disappeared and then, with verges less vigorously cut, the great patch at the  top of Catsum Lane (just after you turn into it) on the left is absolutely wonderful. 

Wed 15 Apr, 08:52

Hi Harriet, thanks for your message. I walked up the entire verge this morning and checked carefully for the few flowered leek and there aren't any. There is a lovely mix of cow parsley, forget-me-nots, and even some cowslips coming through. If left, this will be a lovely addition to Charlbury's biodiversity. For avoidance of doubt, I've posted some photos of the area I'm talking about. If anyone knows who strims this, please do get in touch so we can discuss which bits can be left. Thank, Lucy

Tue 14 Apr, 10:06

I'd love it to be cut to prevent the spread of the few flowered leek. I'm aware it's almost endemic in charlbury, but that doesn't mean we have to encourage an invasive plant that can crowd out our native plants. 

Mon 13 Apr, 20:35

Hi everyone,

I'm keen that this year not all of the grass verge is cut back along this strip near Wychwood paddocks. Picking up on the discussion from last year, I think we were coming to agreement that the whole strip doesn't need cutting. Could someone let me know who to talk to about this? Is it a resident who cuts it back or the Council? If anyone knows it would be great to discuss which bits could be left. Thanks!

Fri 30 May 2025, 11:08

Lucy, I had a look recently and you're absolutely right. The other junction near the field has excellent lines of sight. However, when currently pulling out of Wychwood Paddocks, I need to drive partially onto Enstone Rd just to see if there are cars coming from the crossroads. I don't know what the "happy medium" here is and I agree about the need for biodiversity but perhaps not at all costs. Again you're right, it's not our decision but I suspect someone might just come and cut it back anyway in lieu of waiting for contractors. I wonder if some of the length could be kept and it just be squared off in a sort of split ends solution?

Thu 29 May 2025, 20:57 (last edited on Thu 29 May 2025, 20:58)

Liz, that's a fantastic idea. Thanks for letting me know. 

Thu 29 May 2025, 20:39

Last night the town council approved the installation of signs around town to indicate where land is being managed for nature - "Nature recovery happening here". Those should start appearing soon on a roadside or Mill Field near you. They are very pretty.

Thu 29 May 2025, 17:26

There is clearly disagreement here. I suppose the question is, who gets to decide? I also live adjacent to the site (which by the way is not near a pavement, so there is zero risk of tick transmission), and have had no say in this. Maybe there's a different solution to improve visibility, such as strimming the corner only, installing a mirror etc. How can we as a community take everyone's views on board?

Mon 26 May 2025, 14:05

I think it's been done in a very considerate way, cutting the grass closer to the road edges and leaving some areas for wild plants to grow. Visibility and tidiness should be considered in a village, which is surrounded by lots of beautiful countryside anyway.

Sat 24 May 2025, 08:34

Safety for road users and pedestrians- Keep Safe !

Sat 24 May 2025, 08:31

TBH it's safer to have the verges all cut within the residential area, as the muntjac carry ticks, they then hang on to the cow parsley and are a risk for Lyme disease. And yes, I've had a tick bite from standing on the verge on the slade when someone went past with a pram. 

Fri 23 May 2025, 18:20

Lucy, I agree with George being a resident in the Paddocks; and it's especially difficult to see cars coming up Enstone Road on the wrong side owing to parked cars when the parsley is up. In the grand scheme of things I and neighbours have taken, in recent years, not to cutting the verges further around the Paddocks so we are benefiting from a great display of wildflowers and biodiversity gain. 

Thu 22 May 2025, 08:12

I find it very hard to see how the wildflowers growing there had any impact on visibility. I have to pull out of the junction at the other end of the field and it wasn't a problem. Given the dire state of UK wildlife, I think we need to do all we can to look after it, as the previous post supports.

Sun 18 May 2025, 22:28 (last edited on Sun 18 May 2025, 22:51)

It's worth reading this: "When managed well, road verges, whether rural or urban and whether on major or minor roads, can sustain an astonishing amount of wildlife: more pollinators are found on well-managed verges than in the neighbouring countryside and nearly 45% of our total flora is found on verges.

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Long post - click to read full text

Fri 16 May 2025, 16:28

Driver visibility and 'no mow May' discuss the merits of each others priority every year.

Fri 16 May 2025, 09:34

I appreciate the need for biodiversity but at the same time, it's incredibly hard to pull out of that junction safely when the grass etc is long. The field is often used for youth football training too meaning that whilst your point is valid, I can see why it was removed. 

Tue 13 May 2025, 20:41

I was disappointed to see the verge next to the Wychwood Paddocks playing field has been strimmed. It was full of cow parsley and was surely good for wildlife. I find it hard to see how it could have been causing any harm. Does anyone know who is in charge of it?