UK Focal Point on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing

Introduction | Legal Summary | Access To Resources | Related Links

UK Organisations

Highways Agency

Introduction

The Highways Agency, established in 1994, is an executive agency of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. It maintains, operates and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

For more information on the Highways Agency, please see http://www.highways.gov.uk/

Biological Diversity

The estate of the Highways Agency comprises 30,000 hectares. It contains 55% grassland and about 32 million trees and shrubs of predominantly native species. The origin of the seed used is chiefly European. Wild flowers and companion grasses have been planted and sown to a total of about 200 hectares since 1988. Maintenance of the existing grassland is very limited and the diversity of the sward has evolved slowly to include more than 380 of the UK native plants.

The Highways Agency is currently setting up an Environmental Database, to be launched in April 2002, that will provide basic information on the soft estate (non-engineering elements) around the roads. Information on biodiversity will not be available electronically, but can be accessed as required on request.

Access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing

For information on access to genetic resources on the Highway’s Agency’s estate, you are advised to contact the Head of Horticulture, who will direct requests to the appropriate Operations Directorate staff.

Please bear in mind that some areas of the estate are enclosed within the motorway network and not easily accessible or subject to safety restrictions. For these cases, it is advised to submit a request for access well in advance of the date of visit.

Tony Sangwine
Head of Horticulture
Highways Agency
Tel: 0117 372 8494
E-mail: tony.sangwine@highways.gsi.gov.uk