Anthropocene Apocalypse – great new policy on verges and wild flowers!

Congratulations to East Riding of Yorkshire Council! I assume it is a changed policy. I have been remarking on the number of wild flowers at the side of the road. It has made an exceptionally colourful display this Spring.

I wondered why this was.

I noticed that the verge cutting has been confined to one strip near the road. The rest was left over to the wild flowers. That is brilliant. The flowers not only look pretty but they are providing a huge amount of nectar and pollen for the bees and butterflies. Their seeds will provide food for the birds. I hope every county and country is doing this. Excessive mowing may make things a little tidier but far less beautiful. I prefer the flowers, butterflies and bees.

It is just the sort of thing we need to be doing to help our beleaguered insect population. The other big thing would be to stop the farmers spraying their crops with insecticides. The neonicotinamides are decimating the bees, butterflies and other insects. They need to stop.

I’d much rather have the odd mark on my fruit than kill off the insects!