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Green Triumph: Celebrating the Midway Milestone of the Hampshire Hedge Nature Recovery Corridor

17th January 2025

Today CPRE Hampshire marks a significant milestone in the growth of the Hampshire Hedge – an ambitious project to create a Nature Recovery Corridor connecting the South Downs National Park and the New Forest.

As we celebrate reaching the halfway point, the project team was joined by local MPs, project partners, and funders at Hillier Gardens Arboretum on Friday 17th January 2025. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the ceremonial planting of whips, which will form part of the Hampshire Hedge.

Since launching the Hampshire Hedge in 2023, we have made remarkable progress thanks to the dedicated volunteers who have braved all weather conditions to plant and restore hedgerows:

  • 7.5km of hedgerow created
  • 37,500 whips planted
  • 2,500 volunteer engagements

Alison Talbot, Operations Manager at CPRE Hampshire tells us more; “It’s truly inspiring to see our vision come to life. The Hampshire Hedge is already visibly transforming the landscape, benefiting both people and nature and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has joined our mission so far. And this is just the beginning really. Together, we’re making a lasting impact on the countryside and creating a greener, future for all.”

The Hampshire Hedge is also raising awareness of the importance of hedgerows and we are witnessing a remarkable ripple effect, as numerous local people are taking proactive steps to improve hedgerows across the county.

Through a variety of events, training sessions, and hedgerow grants, the community, individuals, and organisations are all coming together to restore and rejuvenate Hampshire’s hedgerows. This collective effort will ensure that these vital natural features remain an important and thriving part of the landscape for generations to come.

Ellie Banks, CPRE Hampshire Hedgerow Project Officer explains ‘It has been a great privilege to run such an important and exciting project in the county I have grown up in and care so much about. It has been overwhelming how much support and encouragement we have received from members of the public who have attended our many talks, workshops, courses, community events and volunteer sessions over the last 18 months. So many people feel the importance of protecting the countryside around us and hedgerows are a vital and simple starting point”.

About the Hampshire Hedge

Once complete, the Hampshire Hedge will connect the South Downs National Park with the New Forest National Park through a network of new and existing hedgerows – linking woodlands, meadows, local nature reserves, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

This landscape-scale initiative involves all the parishes that bridge the two national parks including Copythorne, Romsey, Ampfield, Braishfield, Hursley, Shawford & Compton, and Olivers Battery.

To bring the project to life, CPRE Hampshire is working with local communities, schools, landowners and farmers to improve the management of existing hedgerows and create new ones.

Nature Recovery

Hedgerows play a crucial role in nature recovery, serving as vital habitats for a wide range of wildlife. By linking two iconic landscapes, the Hampshire Hedge Nature Recovery Corridor will allow species to move safely between different areas, which is essential for maintaining diversity and resilience in ecosystems. It will also provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals, supporting biodiversity at multiple levels.

Additionally, by restoring Hampshire’s lost hedgerows, the Hampshire Hedge will help mitigate climate change by capturing carbon, reducing flood risks, and preventing soil erosion. By connecting fragmented habitats, hedgerows enhance the overall ecological network, making landscapes more robust and capable of withstanding environmental pressures. Restoring and maintaining hedgerows is therefore essential for the countryside, ensuring that both people and the planet can thrive.

A Celebration of Progress and Partnership

The Hampshire Hedge Nature Recovery Corridor is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders including project funders: National CPRE Hedgerow Heroes, The Linbury Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In addition to the project funders, CPRE Hampshire has worked alongside Hampshire County Council (in particular Hampshire Forest Partnership and Hampshire County Farms), South Downs National Park, New Forest National Park, Sparsholt College, Test Valley Borough Council, Winchester City Council, Tree Council to bring the project to life.

'The value in engaging with so many landowners, volunteers and young people is incalculable. The reach of the project from a small but committed team has been incredible'
Chris Lickley, South Downs National Park Authority

2025 Planting Season

Once again, we have set ambitious targets for the 2025 planting season. We aim to plant 3 miles of new hedgerow, equating to 25,000 whips, before the end of March 2025. In addition, we will lay ½ a mile of an existing hedge, bringing the Hampshire Hedge one step closer to completion.

Join a volunteer planting session