Mowing of roadsides

The municipality of Leudal is increasingly trying to apply nature-friendly roadside management. We are working together with IVN Roermond / Studiegroep Leudal on this.

Nature-friendly roadside management is increasingly important for biodiversity, insects, mammals and birds.

Natural roadside management for the flora and fauna present:

  • flowers may bloom and set seed;
  • bees find nectar and pollen there;
  • animals (including hazelworms and viviparous lizards) find shelter in roadsides and find food (insects, benthic animals);
  • food remains for caterpillars of (grassland) butterflies;
  • birds find food there;
  • hedgehogs also find plenty of food in roadsides;
  • there is nesting space for wild bees, among others.

What is roadside management in May/June 2023 

As road managers, we are liable for safety (road safety). This is an important reason we need to mow the roadsides. In addition, roadsides are also mowed to promote biodiversity and species diversity.

Still, we mow less each year. Below you can read the berm policy and also what we have already adjusted from previous years

  • 722 roadsides in outlying areas and forests we do not mow at all in the first round of mowing. These are so-called ecological verges with a total area of 2,691 acres;
  • Roadsides will be mowed to 1 meter wide (was 1.50m);
  • Intermediate verges are completely mowed and traffic views 25 meters entirely;
  • There will be no more mowing. We did this in previous years. When we mow, the clippings are removed. This is a good basis for herb-rich roadsides with many types of flowers;
  • The cutting height is set a little higher (15 cm);
  • Mowing around obstacles will be limited to reflector posts and obstacles in the first meter. No more mowing around trees. This promotes a richer insect life that also benefits the natural enemies of the oak processionary caterpillar.

Cooperation with IVN Roermond / Study Group Leudal

The IVN Roermond and Studiegroep Leudal 'Natuurvriendelijk bermbeheer' initiative group has drawn up a report on 'bottlenecks in verge management'. They survey all roadsides around various nature areas in Leudal and examine them for the presence of flora and fauna. Then the municipality looks at which verges from the report can be designated as "ecological verges" which are then not mowed or only in the autumn. Green management of the municipality and the initiative group hold a meeting twice a year during which natural roadside management is intensively discussed. Results of "no mowing" are also viewed on site and these results are amazing (see photos).

Citizens, businesses and farmers mow roadsides as lawn

We are increasingly seeing residents, businesses and farmers generously mowing municipal roadsides on a weekly basis near homes and businesses. Often the roadside is mowed across the road as well.

This is disastrous for the flora and fauna in the roadsides. We are therefore also appealing for the roadsides to grow in the interest of biodiversity.

The photo below clearly shows the difference between mowing and not mowing:

Photo of mowed verge

Results

By not mowing in the first mowing in recent years, many results have already been achieved in roadsides. Here are some examples:

Caption under image
1. Small fire butterfly can deposit eggs and they hatch by not mowing 2. Phegea butterfly deposits eggs in Bochtige Smele 3. Flowers develop and can produce seeds and are not mowed 4. Bell bees rest in the flowers in the unmowed roadside. Photo taken in the verges near the Roggelseweg, near Buitencentrum De Spar. 5. The hazelworm is particularly common in the roadsides near St. Ursulaweg. Due to the mowing policy, the roadsides are safe for this legless lizard in spring.