Rethinking Roadside Management for Biodiversity in County Wicklow

Did you know that County Wicklow has over 2400 km of public roadway?!! Did you also know that we are experiencing a biodiversity crisis including significant decreases in the populations of pollinators, such as bees?

A promising strategy to reverse this trend involves connecting green spaces, like woodlands and parks, through “green corridors.” Roadside verges are increasingly recognised as vital connectors—if managed with nature in mind.

🐝 What Happens When We Let Things Grow?🌱

One method being trialled in our area is to leave road verges and medians unmowed during the growing season. This approach has profound ecological benefits:

More Flowers = More Bees (and repeat): With mowing paused, wildflowers flourish, offering nectar for bees and allowing plants to complete their life cycles and set seed.
Habitat Boost: Taller vegetation creates shelter for insects, which in turn support native wildlife including frogs, birds, badgers, and bats.
Seed Power: Seeds nourish animals and germinate future plant generations, fuelling a virtuous cycle of biodiversity.
Environmental & Economic Gains: Reduced mowing means less fuel use, lower emissions, and real savings for taxpayers.

Despite the proven benefits, many still view unmowed verges as untidy. Public understanding and engagement are key to changing that perception.

🔬GTT Citizen Science on the Charlesland Dual Carriageway: Summer 2025🥼

This growing season, GTT is partnering with Wicklow County Council on a citizen science initiative along the Charlesland Dual Carriageway in Greystones. The goal? To study plant biodiversity in road verges left unmowed as part of the Council’s existing seasonal no-mow policy.

Highlights of the project include:

Monthly Surveys (June–October 2025) at 10–15 fixed sample points using quadrat methodology.
Training Citizen Scientists to identify and record plant species using field books, photography, and apps like Seek.
Public Reporting: Findings will be shared in a report, community presentation, and interpretive signage installed locally.

Note: This is a grassroots citizen initiative and does not include a professional ecological assessment.

💝 Anticipated Benefits🌼

Empowering Community Participation in meaningful environmental stewardship.
Enhancing Local Biodiversity through informed land management.
Building Awareness and connection between people, native plants, and pollinators.
Saving Resources through reduced mowing and smarter maintenance.

By transforming existing road verges from overlooked strips of homogenous turf into biodiverse green corridors—without additional investment—we can reshape public land for the better. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, doing less can actually give us more.

Our live raw data shared on Google Sheets.