Council Owned or Managed Land

Bath & North East Somerset Council takes account of the importance of wildlife on land that it owns or manages. Close partnerships are formed with the departments which are directly responsible for land, and these are encouraged to take the interests of wildlife into account when vegetation management is being planned.

As a result, the Highways Department has designated several key road side verges as Roadside Nature Reserves, including verges on which the rare Bath asparagus is found. These verges are left uncut during the flowering season.

The Cemeteries Department is responsible for caring for closed burial grounds which are often rich habitats for badgers, bats as well as insects and plants. The management contracts take into account the wildlife interest when specifying the timing and extent of vegetation management.

The Open Spaces Department is also getting involved. Some areas in parks have been planted up with more perennials plants and, where appropriate, areas of grass are allowed to grow longer to provide seed and shelter for insects, birds and mammals.