Hedgerows crisscross the countryside, offering fantastic wildlife habitat, as well as being important corridors. Hedges mimic valuable edge habitat and provide great diversity and connections within the landscape. Generally, the more species of tree and shrub within a hedge, the greater will be its value to wildlife. Many plant-eating insects, for example, depend on a particular plant species, so greater diversity supports more species. Shrub species will flower and fruit at different times, providing valuable resources for wildlife. Hedgerow plants will add further diversity.
Having some mature trees within hedgerows is important too. Over half of the priority species associated with hedgerows are dependent, or partially dependent, on hedgerow trees.
Hedgerows are fantastic for wildlife – but that’s only part of their value.
Other benefits of hedgerows include:
- Protecting crops and soil from the wind; each 1 metre of hedge height protects 10 metres of the land behind it from the wind.
- Shelter and shade for livestock.
- Acting as a livestock-proof barrier.
- Wood fuel when coppiced.
- Acting as an attractive visual barrier.
- Pest control and pollination benefits.
- Storage of pollutants and carbon.
- Flood benefits as hedges can hold water within the landscape.
For more details see the ‘
What have hedgerows ever done for us?’ page on the People’s Trust for Endangered Species website.
However, half of our hedgerows have been removed in the past 75 years, mainly to make room for larger scale agriculture and other development. It is vital that we now retain and manage existing hedgerows, as well as increasing the number of hedgerows through new planting.