Residents of Mill Hill are devastated that the plants growing on a bank, which was marked out less than 12 months ago as a Notable Road Verge giving it protection for its special wildlife interest, have been destroyed.

Brianne Reeve, from Coombes, explained that the grass bank in Mill Hill is an area of about 25ft by 35ft.

"It is a rich environment, with more than 100 plant species, including the brightly coloured bee orchids. We have been fighting for years for this to be a 'notable' verge. Now this has happened so suddenly. It's a disaster."

Mill Hill resident Stanley Allen said: "We had been campaigning for about five years to have this grassy bank properly designated.
"We have been watching the bee orchids develop and more seemed to come up each year.

"In May 2006, there was a ceremony to mark the fact that this has been declared a protected verge and a red-and-white sign was put up explaining the importance of this area.

"The orchids were due to flower in about three weeks' time but the whole bank has been absolutely devastated.

"It hasn't just been mowed - it has been shaved right down to the ground. I just can't believe it has happened and I don't know whether the orchids will recover from this."
Mill Hill resident Liz Johnson is convinced that the mowing was carried out by council staff or council contractors.

"It first happened about four weeks ago," she said. "Not too much harm was done on that occasion because the orchids had only just started appearing but I complained to the council about it.

"This time the orchids have been completely annihilated. This must have been the council's people because all the neighbours know about the orchids and we all think it is a great privilege to have so many bee orchids on the verge."

West Sussex County Council principal ecologist Graham Roberts said: "This is very unfortunate. It was reported to us on Friday. It may be that one of our maintenance people has mowed the area by mistake, or someone else might have done it. We are looking into it.

"This is part of our Notable Road Verge scheme, which has enormous benefits for wildlife throughout the county. On the whole, the scheme usually works well and is very effective."

Notable Road Verges should be mowed only in the autumn or winter months, enabling flowering plants to set seed, but preventing the spread of shrubs, bracken and brambles.

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