This verge is being managed to benefit wildlife. The verge has a mature hedge at the rear adding further wildlife interest. 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.
Meadow Buttercup
The 'classic' meadow buttercup, growing to around 60cm.
How to ID: Typical yellow buttercup flower. Leaves are deeply divided and resemble large green snowflakes!
Where to see it: Established meadows.
Similar species: Creeping Buttercup (3 leaflets in a triangle) and Bulbous Buttercup (downward pointing sepals under the petals).
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill
Our commonest native Geranium. It is an annual and has exploding pods to help distribute its seeds. The small pink flowers are popular with bees.
How to ID: Rounded leaves, divided around half-way into 5-7 wedges. Pink-purple flowers, 6-10mm, petals deeply notched. Stems with both long and short hairs.
Where to see it: Lawns, verges, disturbed ground.
Similar species: Other Geraniums. Small-flowered Crane's-bill has stems with only short hairs. Cut-leaved Crane's-bill has leaves divided nearly to the base.
Hogweed
The large, white flower platforms provide one of the best food sources for pollinators, bringing a great opportunity to view visiting insects such as bees, beetles and hoverflies.
How to ID: Up to 2m tall. Flower 'umbels' to 20cm. Unique leaf shape.
Where to see it: Verges, hedges, rough ground - likes nutrient-rich soil.
Similar species: Giant Hogweed is similar but much larger (and quite rare).
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.
Oxeye Daisy
Swathes of this flower can turn verges into a white haze, swaying in the breeze. Commonly included in wildflower seed mixes, it is attractive to butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
How to ID: Typically grows to 60cm, flowering May-September. White petals with a yellow centre.
Where to see it: Verges, established meadows.
Similar species: Very occasionally, Shasta Daisy escapes from garden and looks similar.
Yorkshire-fog
A very soft grass - covered in fine hairs (its scientific name 'lanatus' means woolly). Supposedly named because from a distance the flowering grass looks like low-lying smoke, such as that from Yorkshire factories.
How to ID: Stems soft and hairy. The flowers have a pink tinge when fresh, getting more straw-coloured with age. Base of the stems have red stripes.
Where to see it: Most grassland habitats.
Similar species: Creeping Soft-grass has similar flowers but hairless stems (apart from the hairy joints).
Dog-rose
The commonest of our native roses and an important plant for wildlife. The fruits, called hips, can be made into 'rose hip syrup' and used as a vitamin C boost.
How to ID: Arching stems to 5m with prickly thorns. Flowers usually pink (occasionally white). Smooth red fruits (hips) in autumn.
Where to see it: Hedgerows.
Similar species: The Field Rose has smaller prickles, white flowers with a column in the centre.
Holly Blue
This delightful small blue butterfly emerges early in the year and lays its eggs on Holly. It has a second generation later in the year and this time breeding on Ivy. Unlike other blue butterflies, it flies around trees and bushes rather than at ground level.
How to ID: Pale blue with a black edge (thin in males, thicker in female). The underside is silvery blue with black spots.
Where to see it: Parks, gardens, hedgerows.
Similar species: The Common Blue has orange spots on the underside (and sometimes on the upper side).
Speckled Wood
This butterfly loves dappled sunlight where the males lay claim to a sunny spot and chase off all intruders. Its caterpillars feed on a range of grasses.
How to ID: Brown with many small, cream spots.
Where to see it: Woodlands, hedgerows, gardens.
Similar species: None.
Black-horned Gem
This small fly is part of a group known as soldier flies due to their bright colours - resembling military uniforms of old. Adults feed on nectar so are often found on flowers.
How to ID: Shiny green with large eyes. Females have a broader abdomen. Black antennae and black 'thighs' on the front legs.
Where to see it: Visiting flowers.
Similar species: Other soldier flies.
