Skip to main content Withyham Parish Council Withyham Parish Council Logo Withyham Parish Council Offices at the old Groombridge Station Withyham Parish Council,
The Old Station, Station Road,
TN3 9RD Groombridge,
East Sussex,
clerk@withyhamparishcouncil.org.uk 01892864557

Wild Verge Project

The Wild Verge Project Wild Verge Project Logo

The Wild Verge Project is a partnership project between Withyham Parish Council and Wild Groombridge [external link, opens a new window].

The Wild Verge Project trial is taking place on the triangle of verge outside the Parish Council offices at The Old Station, Groombridge.

Wild Groombridge survey the site once a month and record what is growing there, as well as what wildlife is visiting the site. This began in 2023, and you can find a report of what they found in 2023 – when the verge was left to grow undisturbed and was monitored by the Wild Groombridge team. This sets a base level against which future results can be measured.

The 2023 report also lists all the species Wild Groombridge found on the Wild Verge in their monthly surveys – a total of 45 species!

A new cutting schedule was also implemented in 2023, which includes reduced cuts, as well as removing the cuttings which otherwise feeds the grass, to allow other naturally occurring plants to grow. This creates a more diverse and helpful area for wildlife, especially insects and bees.

In 2024 we will be trialling 3 growing methods alongside the new cutting schedule, and we have created a low-impact boundary and added in additional boundary mowing to keep the area looking cared for, and to make it clear it’s a project underway!

This is an important project, as over 97% of meadows have been destroyed since the 1930s, so verges are a vital refuge for pollinators and other wildlife. Advice and support has been given by the national charity Plantlife [external link, opens a new window] who work to restore native plant species and habitats, as well as the Sussex Wildlife Trust [external link, opens a new window], who came out to see the verge and advise on native seed mixes.

 

We’ve been scarifying!

The Wild Groombridge team have been preparing the verge in October 2024 to help the Yellow Rattle and Native High Weald seeds overwinter, and so grow well in Spring and Summer 2025. This is an important step in running the three approaches trial, to see what impact different growing methods have on the Wild Verge. More information on the trials method is in the “Wild Verge – 2024 Plan” section below.

The verge may be looking a little different now!

 

 

Get Involved!

Wild Verge Surveys – Second Saturday of the Month

Come and join the wild verge team as we survey the trial verge – all are welcome!

We will meet at the verge in front of The Old Station, Groombridge at 10AM on the second Saturday of each month. Details of each event can be found on the What’s On calendar.

We will be taking photographs, adding them to the iNaturalist app, and noting what we find to create reports about what is growing in each of the three sections of the verge, as well as what wildlife is visiting each section.

We will then be able to see what combination of management / planting creates the most abundant and varied wild verge.

 

Wild Verge – 2024 Plan

Wild Groombridge put together a report which went to a Full Withyham Parish Council meeting, with the plan for the Wild Verge Project in 2024. This was voted on by the Council, who agreed to facilitate the 2024 project plan.

2024 will see the Wild Verge managed in three ways – with one section left to grow naturally as a control, one to be planted with yellow rattle, and one to have a weald native origin seed mix scattered.

Yellow rattle helps to suppress the growth of grass, which will allow other seeds and plants to flourish. The weald native origin seed mix contains seeds for locally growing species within the landscape of the weald.

Both the yellow rattle and the weald native origin seed mix were added to their sections of the site in early 2024, and will be added again in autumn 2024 to allow for over-wintering, which should help the seeds to germinate and so grow more abundantly in 2025.

We have also put up a low-impact boundary made of natural chestnut posts and reflective ropes to protect the seeds / verge.

The Wild Verge Surveys will be taking place throughout the year, to record what happens in each section.

     

 

The Development of the Project from 2023 Onwards

Wild Verge Project – Initial Project Plan 2023

Wild Groombridge created an initial Wild Verge Trial Groombridge – Proposal, which outlined the plan for the verge.

It also shares the science behind why the verge is important, groups that Wild Groombridge have learned from, and ways to involve the community in the project.

Wild Groombridge also created the Wild Verge Timeline:

Wild verge project plan

Wild Verge – 2023 Actions

Wild Groombridge volunteers cleared the Car Park by the Wild Verge, and it looked brilliant!

This helped create a distinct boundary when the wild verge started to grow throughout the year.

Car park next to wild verge after clearing

Wild Groombridge volunteers also monitored the verge with monthly surveys, and lots of you came along to chat and find out about the project.

 

Report from the Wild Verge Project 2023

With the new cutting schedule implemented, Wild Groombridge surveyed the verge throughout 2023, and put together a report of the 2023 Wild Verge Project findings.

This details the actions taken throughout 2023, including seeking specialist advice from Sussex Wildlife Trust, and the way the Wild Verge was managed in 2023.

This also lists all the species Wild Groombridge found on the Wild Verge in their monthly surveys – a total of 45 species.

This report and its findings was used to inform the 2024 Wild Verge Project Plan, which is now underway – watch this space!