THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS

Wildflowers on grass verges are a food source for bees and butterflies. Plantlife said verges supported hundreds of species of flowering plants and should be cut twice a year. It said three-quarters of councils it surveyed cut them multiple times. It received many calls from people "distraught" about the issue, it added.


But the Local Government Association (LGA) said keeping verges shorter was safer for both drivers and pedestrians. Plantlife is calling on councils to better manage the almost 600,000 acres (240,000 hectares) of roadside verges across the country. The verges support up to 1,000 plant species - including the rare bastard balm and long-leaved helleborine which are among 33 wayside flowers faced with extinction.

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