ROADS AND THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

Abstract

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE IN THE NATIONAL CONTEXT IS DISCUSSED AND THE PART PLAYED IN THIS BY ROADS, AND ESPECIALLY ROADSIDE MANAGEMENT, IS HIGHLIGHTED. DETAILS OF A SURVEY MADE IN 1967 SUGGEST THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 500,000 ACRES OF ROADSIDES COVERED WITH GRASS OR OTHER VEGETATION IN ENGLAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND AND THAT THIS AREA IS PROBABLY INCREASING. ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE NATIONAL MILEAGE OF HEDGES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ROADS. THE REASONS FOR MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO SAFETY, AMENITY, WEED CONTROL AND WILDLIFE, TOGETHER WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS FROM EXPERIMENTS CURRENTLY BEING MADE ON METHODS OF MANAGEMENT BY MACHINES OR CHEMICALS. /AUTHOR/