GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to stand between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.
Motorways look even more promising and I cannot believe the biology of
these verges is totally forbidden~ without some form of approved access to
somebody knowledgeable. Nowhere else is there land that remains ungrazed and
undisturbed for such long periods.
Can anyone advise?
Best Wishes Brian.

"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in message
...
GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to stand between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.
Motorways look even more promising and I cannot believe the biology of
these verges is totally forbidden~ without some form of approved access to
somebody knowledgeable. Nowhere else is there land that remains ungrazed
and
undisturbed for such long periods.
Can anyone advise?
Best Wishes Brian.


You weren't listening to Radio 4's nature programme this evening were you? A
lot is being done to preserve native species on the verges and the
inaccessible triangles of land associated with the motorways and trunk
routes.

I can't believe though that they will start allowing people to go on them to
do a bit of gardening with the warning " don't run across the three lanes of
traffic to get to the central reservation in the rush hour"

Steve

The variety of plants etc on the verges in the area was an argument
sucessfully used to block the development of a huge chicken rearing
complex about 2 miles from where I live. Apparently there were a number
of quite rare plants growing there, and it was a recognised site with a
great variety of species growing.

In article , Brian
--- writes
GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to stand between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.
Motorways look even more promising and I cannot believe the biology of
these verges is totally forbidden~ without some form of approved access to
somebody knowledgeable. Nowhere else is there land that remains ungrazed and
undisturbed for such long periods.

Your first contact would be the Highways Agency - 08547 50 40 30

I suspect the answer would be 'no'. Unlike the railway, there is
constant traffic on the motorway, and I suspect they would feel the
danger is just too great. They do have their own knowledgeable experts,
so probably wouldn't feel the need to have someone else on the list.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in message
...
GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to stand between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.
Motorways look even more promising and I cannot believe the biology of
these verges is totally forbidden~ without some form of approved access to
somebody knowledgeable. Nowhere else is there land that remains ungrazed
and
undisturbed for such long periods.
Can anyone advise?
Best Wishes Brian.


But that was before we had the HSE, and company lawyers afraid that the
company might be sued for damages if you accidentally hurt yourself on
railway property.

Bevan

"Bevan Price" mynameATTTTfreeukDOTTTcom wrote in message
...

"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in message
...
GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to stand
between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.
Motorways look even more promising and I cannot believe the biology
of
these verges is totally forbidden~ without some form of approved access
to
somebody knowledgeable. Nowhere else is there land that remains ungrazed
and
undisturbed for such long periods.
Can anyone advise?
Best Wishes Brian.


But that was before we had the HSE, and company lawyers afraid that the
company might be sued for damages if you accidentally hurt yourself on
railway property.

Bevan
~~~~~~~~~
I accept all the reservations mentioned but surely some botanists must
have access or the plants involved would not have been recognised. It must
be that highways and railways have their own approved botanists.
If something cannot be seen and isn't noted ~~ then does it really
exist?!
Best Wishes Brian.

Brian wrote:
GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to stand between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.

Brian,

Can't help with motorways, but can advise railways.

DO NOT TRESPASS ON THE RAILWAY - you will be prosecuted or killed or
seriously injured. You need specialist training to go on or near the
railway, and need various safety systems & people in place.

Certainly LUL are quite aware of the ecological value of the
Underground, and might well have a person you could talk to about it.
Ring in to LUL's main sw/brd and ask. Alternatively I might be able to
advise a contact if you email me off group but it will take me a week or
two to find out for you.

Not sure about Network Rail, but they again might well have someone you
could talk to.

A better, easier bet would be to talk to any preserved railway societys
near you - probably much easier to get hold of the right person and gain
supervised access.

Disused railways might also prove of interest.

HTH,

Sarah

"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in message
...

"Bevan Price" mynameATTTTfreeukDOTTTcom wrote in message
...

"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in
message
...
GWR used to issue a green card that permitted approved
botanising along
railway land. I can only remember that we were warned not to
stand
between
the rails when trains were coming! Very few cards were ever
issued. Many
plants grew there that were missing or rare elsewhere.
Motorways look even more promising and I cannot believe the
biology
of
these verges is totally forbidden~ without some form of approved
access
to
somebody knowledgeable. Nowhere else is there land that remains
ungrazed
and
undisturbed for such long periods.
Can anyone advise?
Best Wishes Brian.


But that was before we had the HSE, and company lawyers afraid
that the
company might be sued for damages if you accidentally hurt
yourself on
railway property.

Bevan
~~~~~~~~~
I accept all the reservations mentioned but surely some
botanists must
have access or the plants involved would not have been recognised.
It must
be that highways and railways have their own approved botanists.
If something cannot be seen and isn't noted ~~ then does it
really
exist?!

'Can't speak for anywhere else but, Lincs has some 60 odd "Protected
Roadside Verges", a scheme run by the Lincs Wildlife Trust and the
Lincs Co. Council Highways dept.
Again, I can't say whether any are bordering 'major' roads but all are
surveyed and reported on annually at least.
And yes, they do harbour many interesting plants. I counted 217
orchids on one this very day.

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 24.06.2005

Sarah Dale wrote:
[...]
Disused railways might also prove of interest.

Which reminds me that many years ago I was impressed by the
Tissington Trail, a railway in Derbyshire which had been converted
into a fine walk. Has this been done anywhere else? Is there perhaps
an organisation to promote the idea?

--
Mike.

In article , Mike Lyle mike_lyle_uk@REMO
VETHISyahoo.co.uk writes
Sarah Dale wrote:
[...]
Disused railways might also prove of interest.

Which reminds me that many years ago I was impressed by the
Tissington Trail, a railway in Derbyshire which had been converted
into a fine walk. Has this been done anywhere else? Is there perhaps
an organisation to promote the idea?

The Bideford, Northam and Appledore railway in N Devon was converted
before Beeching Days.

I think part of the Cleveland Way is the old railway route.

Just behind my house, a branch line is now an urabn walkway - very
short, but linking a nature park in the centre of town with a large area
of woodland running down to a scenic village, giving a popular walk as
well as a wildlife corridor

Just three examples - it's quite a common use for old railways. I don't
think there's a specific organisation to promote the idea, but I guess
all the recreational/environmental active in an area would be ready to
look out for opportunities.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"