SOME verges in Newton Abbot have been earmarked for a transformation into wildflower havens.

Eight sites have been identified by Newton Abbot Town Council to make the verges more wildlife-friendly.

Now the council is asking for residents’ views on the proposals before the plans are finalised.

The plans followed a survey last year asking for opinions on how the town’s verges are managed with 70 per cent of respondents supporting reducing or changing mowing schedules to benefit wildlife.

The eight sites chosen for the trial reflect a range of local conditions and verge types.

At each location, biodiversity surveys will be carried out before and after the changes to track the impact.

A town council spokesman said: ‘This trial phase will help us refine our approach and determine how best to scale wildlife-friendly verge management more widely across the town.

‘Our focus is on enhancing the biodiversity of our grass verges, creating healthier habitats for wildlife and more attractive green spaces for the community.’

The selected verges will continue to receive the usual four to six cuts a year.

However, cuttings will be removed to gradually reduce soil fertility, creating conditions that favour the growth of wildflowers.

At each site, where possible, two small sections would also be scarified: one would be sown with a suitable wildflower seed mix, while the other would be left unsown to assess the natural seed bank already present to show the most effective long-term approach for each verge.

These areas will be carefully monitored throughout the year.

Borders will be maintained and kept litter-free.

Some areas are already rich in wildflowers and simply need their growth encouraged through changes in the mowing schedule.

Others may require the sowing of native wildflower seeds to establish more diverse and beneficial habitats.

The council says safety, visibility and general tidiness would remain priorities, and all verges would continue to receive routine maintenance to ensure road safety is never compromised.

To complete survey go to: https://forms.office.com/e/LDjZDneENX