Hedgerows are one of the most recognisable features of a British landscape. Whether standing on a hill looking down at the land below, flying over in a plane, or travelling through country lanes - hedgerows are a predominant, yet often forgotten, feature.

Hedgerows are essentially lines of shrubs and trees forming boundaries. There are roughly half a million miles of hedgerow across the UK. Both the abundance and traditional practices of hedgerows have declined significantly since the mid-20th century, due in part to the introduction of heavy farming machinery, and more intensive food production following the Second World War.

The historical management of hedgerows is a poignant example of how culturally significant and nature-friendly farming have worked in harmony, and over the years, as these historic practices have dwindled, it’s both the traditions and wildlife that have suffered.

Benefits of healthy hedgerows

Diverse and well-managed hedgerows are a significant habitat for wildlife in a nature-depleted landscape. As well as enriching wildlife diversity overall, there are some surprising benefits. 

For example, hedgerows house animals such as spiders, beetles, wasps and farmland birds, which consume crop pest species, reducing the need for farmers to use costly and harmful pesticides. 

They act as wildlife corridors, enabling our local wildlife to navigate through the landscape, using them as shelter, food sources and commuter routes. 

Hedgerows are extremely beneficial when it comes to supporting pollinators, with species such as hawthorn and blackthorn providing nectar and pollen in times when other food sources aren’t in flower.

Wildlife isn’t the only thing that benefits from sustainable hedgerow practices. Flooding is an ever-growing problem across the country, and hedgerows work as a great preventative measure. Slowing the flow of water on the surface allows more time for it to soak into the soil, and roots help water to permeate deeper into the ground, also helping to mitigate soil erosion. Hedgerows reduce surface wind speeds, which adds to the reduction of soil erosion. All of this in turn has a huge impact on lowering flood risk.

Another significant benefit is carbon capture. Recent research carried out by a team from the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield demonstrated that the soil beneath hedgerows captured up to 40% more carbon than grassland soil, mitigating the effects of climate change.

For farmers, the positive impact of hedgerows can’t be understated. On top of flood management, soil health and natural pest control, crop yield can be improved by increased wildlife diversity. Hedgerows are also living fences, perfect for stock control as well as providing shelter for livestock, and when managed correctly, will last longer than alternative fencing. Through all of this it is evident that nature-friendly farming makes for a sustainable and cost-saving solution.

Overall, we can see many benefits of maintaining and increasing our natural hedgerows, and it is encouraging to note that the trend of removing hedgerows has declined and planting them using traditional methods is on the increase.

Methods of traditional hedgerow management

Coppicing: Used both in woodland and hedgerow management this practice dates back thousands of years. Some of the earliest evidence of the practice can be found at our nearby Somerset Levels, where a causeway over boggy ground known as the “sweet track” was built from coppiced wood. This traditional practice involves cutting a tree at the base to encourage a ‘stool’ that more shoots will come out of, creating thicker growth.

Traditional hedge-laying: While it is believed that hedge-laying is also a practice dating back to well before we have specific records of it, it is in a book by John Fitzherbert in the mid 1500’s that the practice is described in detail. In the mid 1600’s Gervase Markham outlines how the practice differs from place to place, which over time turned into specific regional styles and local hedge-laying competitions emerging. The basic method of hedge-laying is to cut almost completely through the plant near the base and lay it on one side. Branches coming off the side of the plant grow up, creating more areas for growth and a thicker hedge, ideal for stock proofing.

Field margins: A healthy hedgerow goes hand in hand with field margins. These are areas of undisturbed vegetation, including wildflower, grasses and small shrubs, which extend inwards from the base of the hedge. These protect hedgerows and wildlife from agricultural activity, as well as providing even more resources and habitats to everything from pollinators to ground-nesting birds.

Diversity: Ideally, a good quality hedgerow will have at least five species within it. Over the years the diversity of tree and shrub species in hedgerows has declined, which has a big impact on the diversity of wildlife and health of the hedgerow. This has led to an interesting method of dating hedgerows. By using “Hooper’s Law” devised by Dr Max Hooper in the 1970s you should be able to come up with a rough estimate of when the hedgerow was created. The rule states that all you need to do is count the number of woody species in a 30 metre length, and multiply by 100 to give an answer. So for example if you have 4 species, multiply by 100, you have a 400 year old hedge. This isn’t an exact science however and for proper hedgerow dating should be used along side other data.

It is important to note that hedgerow management should be done in winter, typically in January and February to minimise the impact on wildlife. There are many good sources of information available to guide those looking to plant and/or manage traditional hedgerows, with The Wildlife Trust and The National Hedge-laying Society websites being good places to start. Traditional hedge-laying courses are also available for groups and individuals to learn the skills and gain practical experience. The National Hedge-laying Society runs courses and holds hedge-laying competitions where skills are demonstrated and friendly rivalries abound

What does the future of Britain’s hedgerows look like?

Fortunately, there is a growing movement to replant and restore traditional hedgerows as more farmers, landowners and the general public are realising their importance. 

Increasing numbers of people are learning how to plant and manage hedgerows, with work being done in many areas to reverse the decline described at the beginning of this blog, and keep traditional practices alive. 

Farmers and land managers can apply for Hedgerows and Boundaries grants to assist with restoration of existing farm boundaries, and our own Pollinator Pathways project is working with local farmers to restore hedgerows and field margins habitats in the Avon area.

We look to the traditions of the past to ensure the future of our hedgerows as a vital feature and critical habitat of our land. Not only do we understand more of the benefits, we see that our ancestors knew what they were doing when they planted them, and we can learn from them to secure the future of our countryside, our healthy farms, and mitigate the effects of climate change. 

Not only that, but they add to the beauty and diversity of our landscape and will continue to do so, with good management practices, for centuries to come.

Learn more about our Pollinator Pathways project