Latest biodiversity results
The council continues to monitor its nature friendly verges to ensure that they are providing the anticipated biodiversity benefits. Biodiversity surveys were undertaken in 2025 which produced the following results.
Floral species
| Site name | Flora species present 2023 | Flora species present 2024 | Flora species present 2025 | Notable flora present on 2025 survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addington Road | 30 | 41 | 53 | Bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) |
|
Cameron Road (New site for 2025) |
- | - | 33 |
Pale St John’s wort (Hypericum montanum) Grey sedge (Carex divulsa) |
|
Crofton Road (New site for 2025) |
- | - | 35 |
Knotted hedge-parsley (Torilis nodosa) White campion (Silene latifolia) Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) larval foodplant for the Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) |
| Court Road | 36 | 52 | 82 |
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) |
| Downs Hill Road | 15 | 27 | 36 | Dove’s foot cranesbill (Geranium molle) |
|
Foxgrove Road (New 2025) |
- | - | 36 | Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) |
|
Gates Green Road (New 2025) |
- | - | 30 |
Common mallow (Malva sylvestris). Bulbous buttercup (Rancunculus bulbosus) |
| Ormonde Avenue | 16 | 22 | 39 | Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) |
| Pickhurst Lane | 9 | 32 | 60 | Broad-leaved willow-herb (Epilobium montanum) |
| River Pool Walk | 32 | 20 | 61 | Broomrape Orobanche sp. |
| Rangefield Road | 14 | 31 | 47 | White deadnettle (Lamium album) |
| Warren Road | 21 | 55 | 57 |
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)—Schedule 8 W&C act Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) |
Invertebrate species
For the first time in 2025, the number of invertebrates found at each site was also recorded.
| Site name | Number of invertebrate species recorded | Notable species present |
|---|---|---|
| Addington Road | 14 | Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) |
| Cameron Road | 8 | Field grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) |
| Crofton Road | 10 | Small white (Pieris rapae) |
| Court Road | 18 |
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea) |
| Downs Hill Road | 23 | Small skipper (Thylomelicus sylvestris) |
| Foxgrove Road | 2 | Pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) |
| Gates Green Road | 14 | Predatory bug (Orius niger) indicates the presence of a healthy insect food web |
| Ormonde Avenue | 19 |
Yellow-legged mining bee (Andrena flavipes) a solitary bee that indicates good pollination potential Wolf spider (Pardosa amentata) indicates healthy insect food web |
| Pickhurst Lane | 14 | Small scissor bee (Chelostema campanularum) |
| Rangefield Road | 19 |
Carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) Common blue (Polyommatus icarus) Jersey tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) |
| River Pool Walk | 12 | Two-spotted ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) |
| Warren Road | 20 |
Small copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Common blue (Polyommatus icarus) |
Observations for 2025
- Many of the sites appear to be achieving their biodiversity target by creating good wildlife corridors, increasing floral diversity and increasing the food source for pollinating species.
- Court Road and Warren Road are stand out locations based on the presence of orchids and other floral species present.
- Pickhurst Lane, Rangefield Road and River Pool Walk also performed well with River Pool Walk more than tripling its floral species from last year.
- Every site from the 2023-2025 trial has shown a significant improvement in biodiversity. It is hoped that sites introduced in 2025 will also show a year-on-year improvement as the mowing regime improves the conditions for wildflowers, and more invertebrates then begin to make use of the habitat.