This verge is being managed to benefit wildlife. The thick hedge and ditch at the rear of the verge add further wildlife interest to the verge grassland by providing additional habitats. Here are some of the wildflowers and other species 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.
Hedge Woundwort
A handsome plant found in shaded habitats and a strong favourite of bumblebees.
How to ID: Dark purple/red flowers in a spiked whorl, to 1.2m. The heart-shaped leaves have an unpleasant smell.
Where to see it: Hedgerows, ditches and shady places.
Similar species: Marsh Woundwort has pale pink flowers.
Yarrow
Flowering July to October and common on verges and in meadows. The feathery leaves are distinctive.
ID: Feathery leaves and creamy-white dense flower-heads (can also be pinkish).
Creeping Cinquefoil
The name tells you a lot about this plant (if you speak French!). Cinquefoil means 5 leaved and it is certainly a creeper, sending out long runners. It is a very short plant so does best near paths and at the edges of verges.
How to ID: Yellow flowers and 5 leaflets spread in a circle.
Where to see it: Path edges, bare or disturbed ground.
Similar species: None.
Great Willowherb
Sometimes called 'Coddles and Cream' in reference to the colours of its flowers, which appear from July-August. It produces fluffy white seeds that are dispersed by the wind.
How to ID: To 2m tall, often in large patches. Erect stems with leaves opposite. Hairy. Flowers are purplish pink with a creamy white four-lobed stigma in the centre.
Where to see it: Ditches, damp grassland and wet places.
Similar species: Hoary Willowherb is shorter with much smaller flowers.
Bittersweet
Also called Woody Nightshade. The berries are toxic so don't be tempted! Its unique flowers can be seen from May until September where it clambers to 1.5m in hedgerows.
How to ID: The purple petals are folded back with a protruding yellow centre to the flower. Egg-shaped green berries turning shiny red as the ripen. Leaves are oval and pointed with a yellowy green colour.
Where to see it: Climbing in hedges.
Similar species: None.
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
This is an annual plant that often appears in grassland. It is one of several native geraniums in the UK called 'cranesbills' because of the long, pointed fruits.
How to ID: Leaves with 7 divisions almost reaching the the base. Flowers are pink-purple and around 10mm.
Where to see it: Grassland, verges, rough ground.
Similar species: Other cranesbills have similar small pink flowers but lack such deeply divided leaves.
Field Forget-me-not
Though the flowers are small, a close look reveals the familiar forget-me-not colour and shape. This plant is quick to colonise bare ground or any space created by disturbance, bring a splash of colour and a welcome nectar source for insects.
How to ID: Pale blue, saucer-shaped flowers (5mm) with white/yellow centres. Many hooked hairs beneath. Long, tongue-shaped, hairy leaves.
Where to see it: Bare ground, field margins.
Similar species: Other Forget-me-nots, but none with the small flowers and hooked hairs.
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Damselflies are the daintier relatives of dragonflies. They are easily distinguished by the way their wings are held over their body at rest, rather than spread out like dragonflies. The are predators, hunting small insects which they pick off from vegetation.
How to ID: Dark body with a blue tip. Newly emerged adults can have pink, lilac or green abdomens for a short while before they turn blue.
Where to see it: Anywhere near slow-moving water.
Similar species: The Red-eyed Damselfly is larger with prominent red-brown eyes.
2 Spot Ladybird
This medium-sized (4-5mm) ladybird was one of the commonest species but populations have reduced due to predation by the invasive Harlequin Ladybird. It feeds on aphids and is often found in gardens. They overwinter as adults, sometimes in groups of 100+.
How to ID: Smaller than the 7 Spot. Usually red with 2 black spots (but other colour variants occur). All black legs.
Where to see it: Anywhere with aphids! Gardens, grassland, hedges, verges.
Similar species: None (when seeing the common variant).
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!
