In 2017, Chesham Town Council began a trial project to change the management of local road verges to develop areas of wildflowers. Working together with the Chesham and District Natural History Society, six local sites were identified and carefully managed to increase local biodiversity and provide habitat for wildlife.
The first year of the project saw fifty-five wildflower species growing, including bee orchids on one of the verges. Twenty species of insects were spotted, including bumblebees, moths, butterflies, hoverflies, beetles and ants. Due to this success, the council decided to permanently manage these sites for wildlife. Year two saw the number of trial sites increase and new sites are being investigated in 2019.
For more information, visit the Chesham Town Council website.
Images of Bee Orchid and Red-tailed bumblebee, courtesy of Chesham Town Council.
