The BBC report a long-running campaign encouraging councils to let neatly-mown grass verges become mini meadows where wildflowers and wildlife can flourish appears to be building up a head of steam.

Since 2013, Plantlife has been telling authorities the move could help them save money and boost their green credentials. The group said the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows in less than a century – with roadside verges particularly hard-hit.

It said safety and access considerations along with a desire for “neatness” and the logistics of litter-picking had resulted in authorities adopting an overzealous approach to keeping verges short.

Roadside verge photo by Natural England under creative commons.