A few weekends ago we added to a hedgerow that we planted up the year before in Farnham Park. We incorporated more tree species into the hedge, to increase biodiversity, and made it two to three trees deep.
Going back to our roots...
Did you know that the planting of hedgerows started around Roman times and continued on and off through the mid 18th century. As with all trees, hedges clean the air, reduce noise and mitigate flooding. But they have the added benefit of providing safe passage for wildlife by creating a 'wildlife corridor'. In fact, the word ‘hedge’ comes from the Anglo-saxon word ‘haeg’, meaning ‘enclosure.’ And fun fact, bats use hedgerows to navigate.
Hedgerows are among the most diverse habitats in Britain
Hedgerows can link patches of woodland, offer protection for hibernating insects and nesting birds, plus are an essential food source for many species of wildlife (who’ll eat its leaves, nectar-rich flowers, berries, fruits, nuts and seeds, or hunt insects and invertebrates living within it). This means we have not only increased biodiversity at our planting site but have helped boost populations of many endangered species such as the hazel dormouse and hedgehog.
Hedgelaying increases the lifespan of hedgerows
Once fully established, the trees we planted will be ‘laid’, meaning their branches will be bent and partially cut, near ground level, to encourage them to grow horizontally and intertwined. This age-old process, mainly practised in the UK and Ireland, not only encourages vigorous regrowth, but significantly increases the lifespan of the trees, as well as the amount of carbon dioxide they capture from the atmosphere.
Pretty awesome way to address the biodiversity and climate crises in one hit. Let's plant more hedgerows around Britain!
You can help us Green Up Britain via -
Donation - every penny helps restore nature around the UK
Volunteering - join our growing list of helpers
Sponsorship - we'll plant trees on behalf of your company