A NEW project has just started in and around Okehampton, which will help the community look after local road verges to benefit wildlife.

The Life on the Verge-Biosphere Project has appointed local conservationist Clare Manning to work with communities on road verge management.

Clare Manning said: ‘There are some wonderfully rich and diverse road verges in this area and it is great to have this chance to help communities look after them for wildlife and for the benefit of local people and visitors.

‘Life on the Verge - Biosphere has been supported by a £49,300 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to help communities to manage roadside verges for wildlife.’

Road verges are an important wildlife resource and an integral part of Devon’s heritage. They provide a range of habitats and are increasingly important wildlife corridors for threatened species and pollinators. They also provide one of the only opportunities for us to see wildflowers on a daily basis, in towns and villages, as well as in a largely intensively managed countryside.

Managing verges to deliver all these benefits is ever-more difficult as local authority management increasingly focuses on road safety needs, and that’s where Life on the Verge-Biosphere comes in.

Through the project, funds, equipment and expertise will be available to help communities manage their chosen verges and promote their achievements. Case studies and best-practice guidance will help recruit more communities and sustain the volunteer network once the project ends.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, portfolio holder for highways at Devon County Council. said: ‘As well as receiving training to identify wildflowers and associated habitats, it is important that volunteers can work safely by the roadside. Devon County Council Highways is proud therefore to be able to offer free highways safety training for verges volunteers through its existing community road warden and self help schemes.’

Richard Prowse , chair of the Tarka Country Trust, said: ‘To get the project started, Clare will spend a lot of time promoting the project, visiting communities and helping them to get involved.

‘I would urge anyone who is interested to contact Clare by e-mail at [email protected] or 07796 334222.’

As well as the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), this project has been supported by the North Devon Coast AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) which is funded by Defra. The SDF supports projects such as Life on the Verge - Biosphere which bring environmental, social or economic benefit to the North Devon Coast AONB. Marsdens Devon Cottages, whose customers have been raising money for the North Devon Biosphere for several years, are also providing funds.

Other project supporters are Devon County Council Highways, The Devon Biodiversity Records Centre and The North Devon Biosphere Service and Biosphere Foundation.