This verge is being managed to benefit wildlife. There is a good variety of wildflowers and grasses which are attracting many pollinators and other wildlife. Here are some of the wildflowers and other species that have been found here. To see a full list and get up to date with the verge project, visit NatureSpot's Wild Place feature page for this verge. Click on any header to visit the NatureSpot page for that species to find out more.
Common Poppy
The iconic poppy is naturally a cornfield annual, generally only appearing on disturbed soil. Its seeds can lie dormant for 50 years ago - awaiting the opportunity to germinate. It is also widely seeded and grown in gardens where it regularly 'escapes'.
How to ID: Red petals (scarlet to pale pink) with bluish anthers in the centre. Stalks with stiff, spreading hairs. Leaves with deep, serrated lobes. Seed capsules rounded.
Where to see it: Road edges, verges, field margins, disturbed ground.
Similar species: Other poppies, but the rounded seed capsules help distinguish the Common Poppy.
Cat's-ear
Though flowering June-September, the leaves help to identify this plant at any time of year. Common on verges and in short grassland.
ID: Basal rosette of wavy-edged, pimply and hairy leaves. Yellow dandelion-like flowers on branched stalks.
Common Ragwort
Despite its reputation, this is one of the most important wildflowers for the wildlife it supports. Its sunny yellow blooms attract a wide range of pollinators and its leaves feed the yellow and black caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth.
Medium to tall plant, stems erect to 1.5 metres, branched above. Basal and lower leaves pinnately lobed, with a small end lobe, withering by flowering time. Upper leaves 1 to 2 pinnately lobed, half clasping the stem. Flowerheads bright golden yellow, 15 to 25 mm with 12 to 15 rays, borne in large, flat topped, branched clusters.
How to ID: Erect to 1m or more with bright yellow clustered flower-heads. Lower leaves very lobed.
Where to see it: Rough grassland, verges, waste ground.
Similar species: Other Ragworts, particularly Oxford Ragwort.
Ribwort Plantain
Though lacking colourful flowers, this plant is a regular in most grassland habitats. The brown, oval flower heads balance on top of thin, wiry stems; the resulting seed heads provide food for birds in winter.
How to ID: Long, thin leaves forming a basal rosette and each with rows of ribs along its length.
Where to see it: Verges, meadows and most grassy habitats.
Similar species: Greater Plantain has oval leaves.
Wall Barley
An annual plant that has become a common sight along the edges of verges and other disturbed ground. It has long awns (the hair-like bristles on the flowerhead).
How to ID: Around 50cm tall. Multiple, bristly flowerheads. Leaves light green and hairy.
Where to see it: Road edges, bare ground.
Similar species: Meadow Barley has much shorter awns (<11mm) and is usually found in established meadows.
Timothy
This attractive grass is named after the American farmer - Timothy Hanson. It flowers later than most other grasses, from mid June. The pair of 'horns' on each tiny flower is the key ID feature and can be remembered as 'Timothy is a little devil'.
How to ID: Tall, to 1.5m. Often bluish green. Finger-like flower-heads, with each individual flower having 2 points that look like horns (best seen with a hand-lens).
Where to see it: Meadows, verges.
Similar species: Meadow Foxtail lacks the 'horns' and flowers earlier.
Swollen-thighed Beetle
This lovely beetle has become increasingly common and is often seen feeding on a wide range of flowers. The 'Chris Hoy' of the beetle world.
How to ID: 8-10mm. Metallic, shiny green. Males with hugely inflated back legs.
Where to see it: Visiting flowers, particularly Hogweed and Yarrow.
Similar species: Odemera livida is found in similar places but is smaller (6mm) and is a dull, not shiny, green.
Common Field Grasshopper
One of our most common grasshoppers and often found in dry, open grassland. Males 'sing' to attract females by rubbing their legs against their wings. Young nymph grasshoppers hatch from eggs laid in the soil and feed on grasses, moulting several times before reaching adulthood in June.
How to ID: 15-25mm. Variable colours, from brown and grey to orange and purple. All have distinctively shaped side-keels on the thorax, creating wedges down the side. The underside of the body is hairy.
Where to see it: Short grassland in sunny spots.
Similar species: Other grasshoppers but the hairy underside and dark wedges on the thorax are distinctive.
Silver Y
This moth can turn up in thousands at times, when numbers are boosted by immigration. Caterpillars feed on several plants, including nettles.
How to ID: 25mm. Brown and grey with a distinctive silvery 'Y' mark. Can be seen during the day as well as night.
Where to see it: In grassland and low vegetation during the day.
Similar species: None.
Narcissus Bulb Fly
This might look like a bumblebee but it is in fact a hoverfly. Many hoverflies mimic bees and wasps by evolving colours and patterns to fool predators into thinking they have a sting! Despite its name, it mainly breeds on the bulbs of bluebells.
How to ID: There are several colour forms, but all have shades of brown and black and large eyes. It lacks hairs on its black legs which also have a triangular projection.
Where to see it: Verges, gardens, woodland rides. It seeks sunny spots where it rests on leaves.
Similar species: Bumblebees!
