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Community Notice Board MEN ON THE VERGE! Over the last few months parishioners may have noticed ‘men on the verge’ and a large white van loitering around our village. Let me explain We undertook a Parish Appraisal a while ago and many parishioners responded suggesting some sort of planting scheme to add interest and beauty to the village. When Erewash Borough Council made money available to Parish Councils for certain types of capital expenditure we made an application to carryout a planting scheme and our bid was successful. We invited estimates and proposals from contractors and accepted one submitted by Mark Toms, a local landscape gardener, which he created using his own considerable local knowledge, postcode database and by referring to the 2000 Ecological Survey which identified varieties and locations of wild flower, shrubs and trees already established in the Parish. The scheme was then approved by the Highways Department who granted a ‘Cultivation Licence’ for Mark to do this work to verges owned by the local authority, and they also advised regarding location, visibility etc. The Cultivation Licence also ensures that the verge mowing carried out by the local authority is adjusted at specific locations to allow the species time to thrive and seed. The mowing programme for visibility will not be affected as the planting is not close to the highway. The planting will provide interest and colour in the parish at various times throughout the year, and will complement the existing flora, provide food and habitat for local wildlife, and by careful selection of native species and locating them in the best possible areas, the planting will benefit the local ecology now and in the future. The majority of the planting (around 4000 items) will take place along the A608 and on Church Lane. The wide verges and banks on both sides of the A608 travelling into Morley from Derby around the ‘40’ sign and up to the steep field access on the left have been planted with white and red campion, rough hawkbit , field scabious, yarrow, oxeye daisies, great burnet, cowslips, 100 harebells (by the Morley sign) and tansy (on the bank by the field access). On the right hand side of the A608 at this location Mark has planted mountain ash (rowan) field maple (colour in the autumn) silver birch, wild cherry, common buckthorn, field rose, dog rose, (flowers and late berries) hazel, blackthorn (very early blossom) guelder rose and dogwood. Although some of these are designed to enhance the wildlife some species have been protected with rabbit guards. Further along the A608 on the right hand side travelling towards Heanor planting has taken place on the wide verge and in the ditch between the flashing 40 sign and the entrance to Morley Hayes. Species include cowslips, dropwort, two types of vetch, oxeye daisies, primroses, yarrow, field scabious, golden rod (wild variety, smaller than the garden plant) greater knapweed, meadow cranesbill, vetchling, white campion, red clover, rough hawkbit, and stitchwort (in the shade towards the back of the verges). Further along by the layby on the right travelling towards Heanor Mark has planted moisture loving species in the ditch. Yellow iris, marsh woundwort, water avens (a reddish bonnet type flower) purple loosestrife, devils bit scabious, marsh valerian, ragged robin and marsh marigold. In Church Lane planting has taken place in the stretch of grass verge backed by the stone wall on the left side of the lane after the access drive to the church/retreat and around the area where the steps cut up to the retreat grounds. On a ‘sour’ note, Mark and his staff found many deposits of dog excrement on this verge which made planting rather unpleasant . To ensure the best possible survival rate for our plants, and to comply with the law regarding this problem, would dog walkers on Church Lane reading this please remember to clean up after their pets in future. The plants in this lovely location include primroses, betony, great burnet, greater stitchwort, hedge woundwort, red campion and wood forget-me-not. Mark noted that foxglove, lords and ladies, thistles and red campion already grow here. This completes phase one of the scheme. Phase two is due to take place in the late summer and will involve native species bulb planting. Look out for more ‘men on the verge!’ Chrissie Hall
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