NEW wildlife conservation areas are being created in Basildon... alongside some of the town's busiest roads.

Adders, lizards, kestrels, slowworms, voles, rare butterflies and wildlife are finding homes next to routes used by thousands of vehicles every day.

Dozens of wildflowers such as primroses, orchids, ox eye daisies and cowslips are also prospering at these unusual beauty spots.

Experts are particularly excited about the emergence of the grizzled skipper butterfly, seen along Nether Mayne, a species not found anywhere else in Essex.

Now Basildon Council is identifying several areas near roads as conservation areas, including the A13, Nether Mayne, Upper Mayne and Noak Hill Road.

Gordon Reid, chairman of the Basildon Natural History Society, said: "It's highly unusual to find wildlife growing in great masses alongside busy roads, and it's terrific to find rare creatures among them.

"These conservation areas give wildlife a chance to get going and are helping to boost biodiversity."

The explosion in wildlife follows a nature management plan, devised by Basildon Council and the Basildon Natural History Society nine-years ago.

It involves alternatively mowing sections of grass by the roads, while leaving neighbouring areas to grow.

The longer grass helps to create a winter home for animals and insects, and allows wildflowers to thrive.

Terry Simmons, parks manager from Basildon Council, said: "We are carefully managing the grass along our busiest roads using a plan drawn up by the Basildon Natural History Society.

"It's been an astonishing success with miles of grass being transformed into nurseries for rare and unusual wildlife.

"These conservation corridors, just yards from passing cars, are proving to be a magnet for all kinds of plants and animals, and we hope to create more of them in the future."