Lib Dems Welcome New Sheffield Verges Strategy Consultation

The Liberal Democrats in Sheffield have welcomed a new consultation on managing verges across the city. It includes the chance to increase biodiversity by providing habitats for wildlife in our suburbs.

Liberal Democrats are very concerned by recent surveys showing significant declines in our bird and insect populations due to loss of habitat. Verges can play a part in helping reverse the decline by allowing them to become more biodiverse. They can potentially provide habitats for a huge variety of insects on which birds depend and pollinators such as bees, which have seen their numbers dwindling in the last couple of decades across the country.

Councillor Barbara Masters, who has been leading the Lib Dems’ campaign to bring wildlife to our city’s verges said; “Residents across Sheffield have wanted naturalised verges in their areas to increase biodiversity. I have been working with highways officers and the Councils contractor Amey for some time to bring these proposals forward. The problem has been obtaining insurance cover that would allow groups of residents to turn their suburban verges into wildflower oases.  These will also support pollinators which play an important role in food production – another benefit to us as we try to grow more food locally to cut down on food miles.”

Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Council’s Waste and Street Scene committee said; “There are now four options on offer; each with different levels of community engagement. There are some small costs involved and residents can ask their Local Area Committees to support them in creating wildflower verges. However, we are of course always looking for other sources of funding too, so that the uptake of these schemes can be as widespread as possible.”

Cllr Masters’ small trial for this idea shows what can be achieved under the option allowing the most community engagement. A wider trial is planned to start this autumn and results should be visible next July.”