This year, Hurst is to host the first road verge cut and collect scheme in West Sussex outside the National Park.

Within the 30mph zone, all the road verges in Hurst will be cut using WSCC’s only cut-and-collect mower. Where safety permits, there will be three cuts a year. The first cut is on Monday and Tuesday (4 & 5 April), with two further cuts in summer (June/July) and autumn (September/October). The cuttings will be stored locally and then taken to Albourne composting facility to be made into peat-free compost.

Three cuts a year will create more space for low growing native wild flowers like dandelions and daisies and hopefully more. Grass is good, but cutting less and removing the cuttings creates space for more wild flowers creating a balance. Removing the cuttings means nutrients are not returned to the soil and so over time, the vegetation will not grow as long.

More and different native wild flowers and grasses, means more insect life on our verges – making them more nature-friendly. Nature-friendly verges create space for wildlife to live and move around in the face of the climate crisis. 

The cut and collect machine is damaged by litter, so please remember to take your litter home. Thank you!

Please see article in Hurst Life for more information and any comments or questions please contact:

active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk