Hedgerow Heritage

Why are hedgerows important for wildlife

Hedgerows are far more than just a green barrier

For hundreds of years, generations of hedge layers have maintained the iconic patchwork quilt landscape of hedgerows to mark ownership boundaries, contain livestock and shelter crops from extreme weather. In the past these healthy and well connected networks of hedgerows have been essential habitat providing a source of food, shelter and safe passage for priority species of plants and animals across the landscape.

Today a third of all wildlife in the county is already extinct or heading towards extinction.

Since 1945 the intensification of farming and the trend towards larger fields has meant that half of hedgerows have disappeared from the landscape. In addition 93% of the county’s remaining hedgerows are now in poor condition.

More than 130 key species that depend on hedgerows are now at risk of extinction. These species include dormice, hedgehogs, bats, butterflies such as the brown hair streak and rare pearl bordered fritillary, bees, bugs and birds such as the white throat and yellow hammer.

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