Not really shocking I guess, but I think I've seen everything today. I've been up to Strafford upon Avon today including a stint on the M40. Highways Agency have been busy cutting overgrown grass on the verges. Presumably this is to tidy the look the motorway up a bit, also helps promote wild flowers which is a good thing.

However, there are loads of little hay bales all along the verges. So after someone has been cutting the grass, another chap comes along and bales it up

Why?

(Oh and now the grass is short, you can see all the rubbish people have chucked out of their cars!)

The bales can be sold to the farming community

Don't see anything wrong with that, at least by bailing it up it saves it blowing across the carriageway.

I think there are bigger wastes of money within the HA than paying two guys to do some strimming and bailing for a week

Why is this a problem? The main thing being there is no slippery grass cuttings all over the motorway.

Not only that, but if its dry for a wee while the cuttings will turn to hay and cause a fire hazard either on its own or a knock on effect of an RTC.