Straßenränder im Peak District haben sich in diesem Monat in einen Ausbund an Farben verwandelt und erinnern Reisende daran, was einst auf den Feldern gewachsen ist.
Die 35 Straßenrand-Gebiete, die mit grün-weißen Schildern gekennzeichnet sind, sind Gebiete, in denen der „National Park“ und Verantwortliche vor Ort übereingekommen sind, das Abmähen zu verschieben, bis die Wildblumen Samen angesetzt haben.
Pflanzen, die seit 50 Jahren immer seltener vorkommen – wie Wiesen-Storchenschnabel, Distel, Leimkraut und Bärlapp – ebenso wie kleine Säugetiere, Schmetterlinge und Vögel finden sich nun an den Straßenrändern.
Allein auf einer Strecke, neben Owler Bar zwischen Baslow und Sheffield, werden Autofahrer von bis zu 130 verschiedenen Pflanzenspezies gegrüßt – 500 wilde Orchideen eingeschlossen....
Wer also demnächst mit dem Auto durch den Peak District in Derbyshire fährt, kommt vielleicht in den Genuß einiger ungemähter Straßenränder. Beruhigend ist es auf jeden Fall wenn sich jemand Gedanken um den Erhalt der Artenvielfalt macht.
Hier der ganze Artikel in Englisch (Quelle:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk)
Shot at 2007-07-28
Zitat:
Peak District roadsides a riot of colour
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor
Last Updated: 6:01pm BST 19/07/2007
Roadsides in the Peak District have burst into riots of colour this month, giving travellers a reminder of what once filled the fields.
The 35 road verge reserves, which have distinctive green-and-white signs, are areas where local authorities and the national park have agreed to delay cutting until the wild flowers have set their seeds.
Plants that have been declining for 50 years or more - including meadow cranesbill, melancholy thistle, Nottingham catchfly and stag's horn clubmoss - are found on the reserves, as well as small mammals, butterflies and birds.
On one stretch alone, near Owler Bar between Baslow and Sheffield, motorists have been greeted by nearly 130 different plant species - including 500 wild orchids.
Local residents identified many of the verges, on both main roads and green lanes, as potential reserves because of the seedbank they were known to contain.
Residents are also involved in helping survey, monitor and manage the wildflowers, clearing scrub or bracken to allow wild flowers to flourish.
Irene Ratcliffe, a member of the National Park Authority, said: "This magnificent sight proves that road verges provide excellent habitats if they're sensitively managed.
"It is amazing to see such biodiversity - including a profusion of orchids growing on gritstone, which has only happened because of their proximity to limestone chippings from the road.
The Authority is delighted to be part of such a valuable partnership and hope that these attractive wildlife corridors can be extended across the county.