hermes said:Do they move around at all? Baby Triffids?
hermes said:Do they move around at all? Baby Triffids?
JohnD said:show us a pic.
Hansard said:Road Salting
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of road salting on (i) roadside flora, (ii) roadside fauna, (iii) vehicles and (iv) bridges. [11644]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 25 January 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has commissioned and evaluated on the effects of road salting on roadside flora, fauna, vehicles and bridges.
A comprehensive study of the effects of road salting on roadside flora was carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory in 1982. The subsequent report was "An Assessment of The Conditions For Shrubs Alongside Motorways" by Colwill, Thompson and Rutter, Laboratory Report 1061.
A study was also commissioned in April 1989 into the performance of concrete in bridges. Known as the "Maunsell Report", its findings have been included within the 15 year bridge rehabilitation programme.
There has not been any separate assessments on evaluating the effects of road salting on roadside fauna or on vehicles.
25 Jan 1996 : Column: 354
...TRRL
Laboratory Report 1061 has suggested that, on verges 5m from the hard shoulder, the concentration of salt in the soil is a negligible hazard to any plants. Exceptions to this may be more sensitive and specialised species which can only be grown within a small range of chemical tolerances.
Small droplets of spray may be blown further afield, and in harsh winters, severe browning of Scots pine and spruce has been noted up to 15m from the carriageway, Saline conditions can also build up, in the longer term, in the 2m verge leading to the development of plant communities which are either salt tolerant or characteristic of salt marshes.
Spray damage is usually unsightly rather than life- threatening to plants, although it may have adverse effects of sensitive habits containing communities or populations of plants with specialised requirements. In general, spray damage is more likely to affect evergreen trees and shrubs which will be in leaf when de-icing takes place...
Richardp said:Ragwort is yellow,
hows about this ''stitchwort''?
try this site
http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/