Biodiversity Improvements - Woodlark Rd, Hoadley Rd, Sherlock Rd & Eachard Rd

For all the reasons others have listed I’d prefer the option to keep verges outside my house as grass.

I'm hugely in favour of taking steps to improve biodiversity and support nature in our roads. I would like to support this initiative and see wild flowers on the verges - BUT on reflection I'm not sure the verges outside my home are wide enough to accommodate these? (Woodlark) My thought is that if this does get tried we should have some blackboards displayed on posts explaining the initiative, listing what flowers are in the mix, and what insects have been spotted? Might just make visitors be more thoughtful about parking if they understand the scheme? Similar to those at National Trust put up at their sites. I think it's worth a try - but maybe on wider verge areas ... on on the double yellow line side (as drivers aren't getting in/out of their cars on those verges). And as another resident said, less mowing needed. It would be good to know how much would be saved on mowing if this scheme got the go-ahead.

Great for biodiversity and for street appearance, which is currently pretty bleak on Eachard Rd.

My choice is Choice 1-Grass. Although I applaud any initiative to improve our city’s environment, I am concerned about the practicability, and ongoing cost/maintenance implications of curb flower/shrub planting. Grass is more robust, and can withstand the constant damage from vehicles, wheelie bins, pedestrians, bicycles etc., needs minimal maintenance/watering, and is ascetically constant throughout the year. Curb flower/shrub planting that I have seen looks unkempt and unloved.

I think the grass verges should stay as they are. Not only do they provide space for pedestrians passing and putting out bins but the area already has plenty of trees, shrubs and plants. As the verges are close to gutters, planting would add to the build up of silt and debris and block drains. Cambridge could follow other parts of the country and ban parking on verges if they wish to.

Choice 1: Need to put bins on grass verge, if we have flowers then bins will need to go onto road as we cannot block pavements, also paths are so narrow it is difficult to walk two abreast at the moment because of overgrown trees, bushes etc from homeowners gardens, so you have to walk on the verge especially when passing people, ( also a problem in other areas, perhaps a gentle reminder is needed to all homeowners that it is their responsibility look after their gardens so not as to impede pedestrians on the footpath) Flowers will look awful when dead, I would rather look at green grass. The council will not look after the flowers, they do not look after existing trees, take a walk along the roads and look for yourselves! the pavements and grass verges are in poor condition, pavements are disappearing. I do have sympathy for delivery drivers parking on the verge, otherwise they block the roads as there are so many parked cars. Perhaps there is a better option to stop parking on verges, wooden post or boulders. There are better ways of using money, perhaps maintaining footpaths and cycle paths so they are not dangerous. Also paths are destroyed by house building works, delivery lorries, cement mixers, skip lorries, JCB diggers etc (have you seen the path in Sherlock road opposite the flats from building works by the resident on Huntingdon road, very dangerous, for the elderly and disabled Does the council have a maintenance Budget?

Support the scheme as it has some biodiversity benefits and reduces carbon emissions associated with mowing. Outside no.11 Sherlock Road I have planted over 200 daffodil bulbs so would be pleased if they could be retained. Agree with other comments about need for longer period of flowering interest and suggest some budget be allocated to bulb planting of species suited to naturalsing flieering in early spring and after the wild flowers fade.