Across the whole country there is a large area occupied by roads offering an extensive habitat for trees and bushes in the hedge and other herbaceaous plants that are cut almost like a hay meadow to keep the verge clear.

If the verge is not cut too frequently a wide range of species can be found. Hedges and verges offer an important habitat for many birds, butterflies and other insects.

Because many roads are gritted in the winter there can be a narrow strip of verge that receives a high level of salinity. Plants which are usally seen on saltmarshes are now being found on many inland roads.

Click on different parts of the picture to see some of the plants that grow there