Hedging your bets?

If you’re hoping to spot wildlife when you’re out and about in the countryside then a hedge is a good place to start.

Species-rich hedgerows are fantastic havens for wildlife. What do I mean by species rich - well basically any hedge that has a wide variety of trees and shrubs growing in it. The greater the diversity of plant species, the greater diversity of wildlife the hedge will support.

Hedges have been part of our landscapes for a long time and are originally likely to have been remnants of woodland that were cleared for early farmers. These remnants were then left as a mark of their ownership and are a key boundary feature in our farmed landscape today.

Unfortunately it is believed that we have lost over 50% of our hedgerows since the 1950’s due to development, changes in land management and change to use of fences as field boundaries.

Traditional hedgerow management is time consuming and a skill that is being lost from our landscapes. But hedgelaying is thankfully being kept alive by the National Hedgelaying Society who promote the ongoing value of hedges and the fabulous art of hedgelaying. Every year they support competitions across the country to crown the best hedgelayers - there really is nothing like a beautifully laid hedge :-)

Hedgelaying has multiple benefits. It helps create a thicker structure that provides better shelter for wildlife, such as nesting birds and dormice. The cutting of fruiting shrubs can help to promote more fruit and therefore more food for our feathered and furry friends. It also helps control the width and height of the hedge which makes managing the land around it easier.

A wide variety of mammals, birds and invertebrates rely on hedges for food and shelter. Bats use them to navigate their landscape and find food. Butterflies, moths and bees use them for nectar sources - hawthorn and blackthorn blossom as well as honeysuckle later in the year. Hedgehogs (where else would you find them…), voles and weasels use them to travel around without being detected as well as for shelter and food.

So chances are if you’re out and about at any time of year you will find some wildlife in or near a hedge - so if I was hedging my bets I know where I’d be!

Want to know more? Book a NaturesGems tour!