. . . . . . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine. from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  HALLO AND WELCOME The Friends of Emsworth Waysides is a new community conservation group set up in Nov 2009 by residents of Emsworth to protect and conserve the wildlife of roadside verges and other small areas around our town. We are working with the local Council to trial an alternative approach to urban wayside management which has two broad aims: (1) to foster biodiversity by creating a network of wildlife corridors full of wild flowers and grasses; (2) to promote an interest among residents in the wildlife of their immediate environment, ie, 'bringing people closer to nature'. In the first year of the scheme, 14 waysides were set aside by the local Council not to be cut during the growing season. These were monitored by volunteers and plant surveys carried out. Another five waysides were added in the following year bringing the total to 19 scattered around Emsworth. The effects have been astonishing with over 250 different species of plant recorded on the waysides, including some rare ones, which certainly would not have been known about without the non-cutting scheme. Other wildlife, such as insects and birds will also have benefitted from the new nectar sources. The scheme has been enthusiastically received by the Emsworth community and funds have been raised from local organisations to purchase an information board. LINKS TO PAGES ON THE WEB SITE Waysides News Blog . . . . All the latest news about the group and the reserves List of wayside reserves . . . List of 19 waysides and league table with number of plants on each Waysides plant list 2011 . . . List of all plants recorded on the 19 waysides up to August 2011 Insect survey . . . Report of insect survey of four waysides in July 2011 by Bryan Pinchen Bridge Road Wayside Reserve . . . Details of the first wayside nature reserve in Emsworth Plants of Bridge Road Wayside . . . List of plants discovered on the reserve Friends of Emsworth Waysides . . . Statement of aims of the scheme Waysides Committee Meetings . . . Minutes of Committee Meetings Links to other local wildlife web sites . . . Cheers, and thanks for visiting our site. See you again soon . . . E-mail to brianfellows at tiscali.co.uk   Hosted by Hantsweb Hampshire County Council