Shaping the future

Hedgerows are a defining feature of the English landscape, helping create a characteristic patchwork quilt across the countryside. There are many local variations, with distinctive ecological and cultural associations. So they deserve every effort to protect them.

Two-thirds of England has had a continuously hedged landscape for a thousand years or more. Some hedgerow systems date back to prehistoric times, and most were well established by the Anglo-Saxon period.

It is only in the Midlands and part of the North East that the majority of these early hedgerows were removed in medieval times to create open field systems. In these areas, new hedgerows were subsequently planted under the Enclosure Acts bwtween 1750 and 1850. Consequently, most of England's hedgerows pre-date the Enclosure Acts, and are older than many of the parish churches and other historic buildings that society values highly.

Declining habitat Back to top

Hedgerows are the most widespread semi-natural habitat in England. Over large parts ofthe lowlands they are the main semi-natural habitat that survives. They are critical to the existence of numerous plants and animals.

They are particularly important within areas of intensive farming, and for the survival of widespread yet declining species which are dependent on woodland edge, scrub or rough grassland habitats.

The Countryside Survey results for 2007 revealed that since 1998 the length of managed hedgerows in England had decreased by 6.1%. The survey suggests that a large proportion of the loss is because hedgerows have turned into lines of trees or relict hedges, because they have not been managed.

The total length of managed hedgerows in England in 2007 was 402,000 km.

Legacy projects Back to top

CPRE has a long history of campaigning for the protection of hedgerows. Thanks to a recent legacy dedicated to hedgerows we have been able to fund a variety of initiatives.

We are an active member of Hedgelink, the partnership that brings everyone interested in hedgerows together - to share knowledge and ideas, to encourage and inspire, and to work with farmers and other land managers to conserve and enhance our hedgerow heritage.

In early 2008, CPRE contributed towards a film about hedgerow management, alongside Natural England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Tree Council, RSPB and the National Hedgelaying Society.

The film offers advice on how to manage our rich hedgerow heritage effectively and sensitively in the context of moden farming and land management. Clips from the film can be viewed in the hedgerow section of the CPRE website, and copies can be ordered from Natural England.

CPRE and the National Hedgelaying Society have recently launched the first ever accreditation scheme for hedgelayers. The scheme will mean that hedgelayers can their hedge work assessed and if they meet the standard they will be officially accredited by the National Hedgelaying Society.

They will be able to show their accreditation to potential employers as evidence of their skills. In turn, the application of those skills will benefit many hedgerows around the countryside that will be managed to the highest standards.

Several CPRE branches are working on hedgerow projects funded by the hedgerow legacy.

CPRE Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire have held hedgerow-themed events
CPRE East Riding is organising a hedgerow award scheme
CPRE Gloucestershire is leading a hedgrow restoration project
CPRE Cheshire has set up a hedgerow network
CPRE Oxfordshire and Herefordshire branches are organising hedgerow surveys

Using survey results Back to top

Hedgerow surveys, whether of individual hedges, parishes, districts or even whole counties, provide immensely valuable information about the diversity and state of England's hedges and what needs to be done to restore or maintain them.

At the same time, they help raise awareness and interest among land managers and local communities about the importance of hedgerows.

Surveys need to be carried out in a consistent and rigorous way across the country. The use of a standard method makes it possible to compare results from different parts of England and to monitor progress towards the targets in both UK and local biodiversity action plans.

Hedgelink has produced a standard methodology for hedgerow surveys.

Preventing damage

A hedgerow survey can also help local authorities stop important hedgerows being damaged or removed. This is because many countryside hedgerows are protected by the Hedgerows Regulations.

A hedgerow is considered important if it

is over 20 metres long
is at least 30 years old
meets criteria based around
... the number of species in it
... its historical significance
... associated hedge features (eg hedge bank, ditch, tree or connections with ponds)

A land manager wishing to remove a hedgerow has to notify the local planning authority. If the hedgrow is considered important, the planning authority will protect it. But if the authority doesn't send a response within 42 days, the land manager can remove the hedgerow.

In early 2010, CPRE is planning to carry out a survey of local authorities to see how effective the Hedgerows Regulations actually are in protecting hedgerows across the country. CPRE would like to see a wider range of hedgerows protected, and plans to use the survey results to lobby the Government for stronger regulations.

Reproduced with permission from the Winter 2009 CPRE's membership newsletter Fieldwork.

Fiona Cowan
11 February 2010 Back to top