The Transport Administration initiated a pilot project on mowing the year before last. With this project, the aim is to make the mowing of road verges more systematic and environmentally friendly. During the summer season, roadside verges along highways are mowed two, three, or four times. Or when the height of the grass exceeds 60 centimeters.
Meeri Vaiksaar, a maintenance expert at the Transport Administration, said that this year marks the end of the pilot project. She mentioned that they have noticed that less frequent mowing promotes plant diversity. According to her, more flowers can be seen on the road verges.
Vaiksaar also said that the Transport Administration now plans to monitor the height of the grass. This is necessary to ensure that traffic safety is not compromised and plant biodiversity is preserved.
Toomas Kukk, senior curator of botany at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, said that less frequent mowing helps plants grow better. He mentioned that plants that previously could not flower now have the opportunity to do so.
The Transport Administration will take the results of the pilot project into account and continue working on the mowing of road verges.