Biodiversity Verges Initiative
Description of the work:
Work will be carried out on various sections of the Fastrack network in Dartford and Gravesham to designate parcels of land as “biodiversity verges”. These spaces will provide habitat for pollinating insects and other key wildlife which will have a positive effect on the biodiversity across Dartford and Gravesham. These areas will add a combined 30,000-meter square area (3 hectares or over 7 acres) and include a variety of wild plants which will attract and support a range of insects and wildlife. These works will also include an annual maintenance contract which will be tasked with the regular upkeep of these areas. Support for pollinators forms a part of the wider “Kent’s Plan Bee”; a cross-Kent initiative designed to take action of Kent’s vital pollinating insects and to tackle declines in Kent’s biodiversity generally.
Objectives:
One core objective of this programme is to increase the overall level of biodiversity which is present across Dartford and Gravesham. These boroughs consist of large areas of urban environment which can sometimes be hostile for pollinators and other wildlife to live in. The introduction of these biodiversity areas will improve and increase the green infrastructure of the borough thereby allowing for designated spaces for wildlife to live and thrive. Although the landscaping work being undertaken by Fastrack aims to boost biodiversity generally, one species has been chosen as a target: the Shrill Carder bee (Bombus sylvarum).
This bumblebee has experienced a rapid decline in overall numbers and distribution across the country in the last 3 decades, becoming England’s rarest bumblebee. North Kent, including Dartford and Gravesham boroughs, still retain and support small populations of this species, in one of only five areas nationally where the bumblebee is still found. The Shrill Carder bee requires flower-rich areas of grassland for forage (feeding), as well as longer areas of tussocky grass retained for nesting and hibernating. This bumblebee species has been recorded on road verges and other urban sites in the local area around Dartford and Gravesham. Fastrack offers an ideal opportunity to provide corridors or ‘stepping stones’ of suitable grassland habitat to support the Shrill Carder, and in the process, provide habitat for many other insects and animals and wildlife generally.
The increase in green infrastructure will have other added benefits. Areas of Dartford and Gravesham have been identified to be poor air quality zones. By increasing the areas of planting and vegetation, a longer-term benefit may be to bring some improvement to air quality by helping to filter and remove dangerous pollutants, particulate matter and dust from the air as well as retain and absorb water-borne pollutants in surface water runoff. There will also be other added environmental and social benefits. Increased areas of vegetation and green infrastructure will help to improve the overall landscape character and aesthetic appeal of areas in parts of Dartford and Gravesham, supporting and promoting the regeneration aims of the areas.
Summary of design and maintenance work
Part of Kent County Council’s specific design of biodiversity verges and reseeding work has included the development of a bespoke seed mix which has been selected to include suitable wildflowers which provide nectar and pollen (forage) for pollinators including butterflies, moths, bees, and hoverflies, as well as the national priority species Shrill Carder bee. Furthermore, the maintenance contracts for these verges will also be reduced from 6 cuts per year to just 1 cut annually. This annual cut will take place in autumn when wildflowers have finished flowering and seeds have set. The reduction in cutting will not only allow the grassland plants to flower but will provide longer areas of tussocky grass and vegetation for pollinators and other wildlife to nest, shelter and hibernate. Some stretches of biodiversity verge are also being planted with native hedgerow mixes, as well as bulbs and plug plants. The addition of taller, hedgerow habitats will support a wider range of wildlife, and the bulbs and plug plants will provide additional forage and colour to the verges.
Access along the pedestrian and cycle routes will be maintained by retaining 6 cuts per year along these stretches.
Site 1: Watling Street
Description of Work:
The stretch of road between the Peanut Avenue and the junction with Bean Road Tunnel will be converted into pollinator and biodiversity area amounting to roughly 9700 metres square in length.
Site 2: Darent Valley Hospital Fastrack Lane
Description of Works:
These works will focus on converting the existing highways grass verges on the Darent Valley Fastrack Lane and will also include conversion works on Darent Wood Road. These verges will be converted to pollinator and biodiversity verges roughly 10,000 metres square in length and will also provide a pollution buffer between Darent Valley Hospital and the nearby carriageway.
Site 3: Princes Road Fastrack Lane East
Description of works:
The Princes Roads Fastrack Lane East will have its highway grass verges converted into a bed of pollinator and biodiversity verges roughly 1500 meters square in length.
Site 4: Princes Road Fastrack Lane West
Description of works:
The Princes Roads Fastrack Lane West will have its highway grass verges converted into a bed of pollinator and biodiversity verges roughly 1800 meters square in length.
Site 5: Darenth Road Fastrack Lane
Description of Works
These works will look to replace the current highway grass verge with a pollinator and biodiversity verge. The verges along the Fastrack lane will be roughly 2900 meters square in length.
Site 6: Gore Road
Description of works
These works will look to replace the current highway grass verge with a pollinator/biodiversity verge. The verges along the Fastrack lane will be roughly 1000 meters square in length.
Site 7: St. Vincent’s Avenue
Description of works
These works will focus on converting a grass verge on St. Vincent’s Avenue into a pollinator and wildlife verge. This will be approximately 600 square meters in length.
Overall Benefits to each site
Increased biodiversity, Improved landscape character and aesthetic value, pollution Mitigation.
Site 1 – Station Approach, Greenhithe Bus Station
Description of works:
These works will focus on converting the current highway grass verge on station approach to a pollinator and biodiversity verge. This space will cover roughly 890 M square.
Site 2 – Thames Way/ Stonebridge Road
Description of works:
These works will focus on converting the current highway grass verge on station approach to a pollinator and biodiversity verge. This space will cover roughly 2500 M square.
Site 3 – Thames Way – green corridor
Description of works:
These works will focus on converting the current highway grass verge on station approach to a pollinator and biodiversity verge. This space will cover 8000 – 11,000 square meters and will have several benefits for local wildlife populations. This will also include the planting of bulbs for seasonal variation in flowers for an annual growth.
Site 4 – Southfleet Road/ Ebbsfleet Gateway
Description of works:
These works will focus on converting the current highway grass verge on station approach to a pollinator and biodiversity verge. This space will cover 4500 square meters and will have several benefits for local wildlife populations. This will also include plug planting of plants which will grow permanently in the area.
Site 5 – Fastrack Ingress Link
Description of works:
These works will focus on converting the current highway grass verge on station approach to a pollinator and biodiversity verge. This space will cover 240 square meters and will have several benefits for local wildlife populations. This will also include the planting of native hedgerows in the area.
Site 6 – Roundabouts
Description of works:
These works will focus on converting the current highway grass verge on station approach to a pollinator and biodiversity verge. This space will cover 4200 square meters and will have several benefits for local wildlife populations. This will also include tree and bulb planting.
Overall Benefits to each site
Increased biodiversity, Improved landscape character and aesthetic value, pollution Mitigation.
