About this episode

Martha Kearney explores the ecological significance of Britain's roadside verges and the community efforts to enhance them.

Britain's roadside verges rarely get much attention, but can play host to a whole range of plant and animal species. In this programme Martha Kearney finds out about this overlooked habitat. She meets a community group in East Sussex whose members grow plants at home specially to plant in the verges of their village, and talks to the charity Plantlife about the importance of verges as an environmental habitat. She goes out exploring with artist Nessie Ramm, who focuses on painting the tiny details of roadside verges, and who last year won the New English Art Club Climate Emergency prize for her work entitled 'Reduce Speed Now'. Producer: Emma Campbell

People in this episode

Host: Martha Kearney

Guest: Nessie Ramm

Topics covered

• roadside verges
• biodiversity
• community gardening
• environmental habitat
• art and nature

Keywords

• roadside verges
• plant species
• East Sussex
• community group
• environmental habitat
• Nessie Ramm
• Plantlife

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Plantlife

Books & works: Reduce Speed Now

Places: East Sussex

More episodes of Open Country

• Saving the Rare Plants of Eryri · September 10, 2026 · 24 min
• Bramble Bank Cricket Match · September 3, 2026 · 24 min
• River Pilgrimage · August 27, 2026 · 24 min
• Ancient Technology Centre · August 20, 2026 · 23 min
• Bluebird returns to Coniston · May 14, 2026 · 25 min
• Wildlife Artists on Massingham Heath · May 7, 2026 · 24 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Open Country podcast page.