ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN Site Ref

ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN Site ref: DO08

LOCATION : Westcourt Lane

Parish : Shepherdswell with Coldred

District : Dover

Grid ref. : TR 248 483 - 250 483

Date : February 1996

2. INTEREST

This site has been selected as an RNR because it supports several colonies of field mouse-ear which is a species of county importance. It also supports a good range of chalk wild flowers and grasses including greater knapweed, lady’s bedstraw, burnet saxifrage, mouse-ear hawkweed, horseshoe vetch and marjoram.

3. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This RNR lies on the north side of the road and extends for about 120 metres. The verge is narrow at less than 1 metre wide. It lies above the road and is level except in the eastern end where it forms a narrow south west facing bank lying at an angle of 35. The verge lies on freely drained chalky soils.

The initial survey was carried out in July 1992 and describes a mixed species hedge backing the verge. The survey in September 1995 noted that this had been removed. Since the adjacent land use is arable the verge is potentially vulnerable to spray drift and runoff.

4. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Ideally this verge would receive one annual cut in late summer so that the field mouse-ear and other species can flower and set seed. However on a verge this narrow the highways early summer 1 metre safety cut is going to affect the whole of the verge and any cut during this time will damage flowering heads. With careful timing the safety cut need not be as damaging as it first appears.

The field mouse ear has a long flowering season from April through to August soprovided that the first cut takes place early, giving the maximum flowering time between cuts, it will be able to flower and set seed. This will also be to the benefit of the other species.

No planting of trees or ground plants should take place on the RNR.

5. MANAGEMENT TO BE CARRIED OUT BY HMU OPERATOR

FIRST CUT

Time:No later than the first week of May

Width:Full width of verge

Height:No lower than the 4 inch standard

SECOND CUT

Time:September

Width:Full width of verge

Height:As above

6. ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT BY VOLUNTEER WARDEN

Keep an eye on the verge and report any problems to the Road Verge Project at Kent Trust.
Monitor the verge by taking a few photos, each year at the same time, from the same point.

ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN Site ref: DO09

LOCATION : Shepherdswell Road

Parish : Shepherdswell with Coldred

District : Dover

Grid ref. : TR. 263 486 - 276 493

Date : February 1996

2. INTEREST

This site has been selected as an RNR because it supports good colonies of chalk wild flowers and grasses. Of particular interest are several large colonies of field mouse-ear which is a species of county importance. Other species include horseshoe vetch, rockrose, cowslip, sainfoin, common milkwort, small scabious, greater knapweed, and burnet saxifrage.

This diversity of plants is likely to support a good range and number of invertebrates. Butterflies were particularly abundant on the day of the survey and common blue, meadow brown, gatekeeper, and marbled white were noted.

3. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This RNR lies on the northern side of the road and extends for about 1 mile. The verge is generally narrow at about 1 metre wide. The slope varies with flat sections raised above the height of the road and other sections lying at about 45 or as steep as 80 at the eastern end. The RNR faces south-east. The verge lies on freely drained chalk soils and for much of its length is backed by a hedge. The adjacent land use is arable.

The main threat to the interest of the verge comes from lack of management which has allowed scrub and particularly bramble to colonise parts of the site. Some sections have declined significantly in interest but regular management will reverse this trend.

4. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Ideally this verge would receive one annual cut in late summer so that the field mouse-ear and other species can flower and set seed. However on a verge this narrow the highways early summer, 1 metre, safety cut is going to affect much of the verge and any mowing during this time will damage flowering heads. With careful timing the safety cut need not be as damaging as it first appears.

The field mouse ear has a long flowering season from April through to August so provided that the first cut takes place early, giving the maximum flowering time between cuts, it will be able to flower and set seed. This will also be to the benefit of the other species.

It also important that the whole verge receives an annual late summer cut to reverse the trend of coarse species and scrub from colonising parts of the site and gradually ousting the more interesting flowers and grasses.