Roadside verges 'last refuge for wild flowers'
Posted: 06 Jun 2015, 06:20
More than 700 species of wild plants - almost half of the native flora of the British Isles - are found on road verges, according to a study.
Many plants once found in meadows now only thrive beside roads, where they provide essential habitat for insects, says charity Plantlife International.
But it says one in 10 of the plants is at risk of extinction, in part because councils cut verges too early.
Local authorities say shorter verges are safer for drivers and pedestrians.
Dr Trevor Dines, botanical specialist for the charity, said more than 97% of meadows had been destroyed in England since the 1930s, with road verges becoming the last stretches of natural habitat for wildlife such as bees and other insects.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33029385