New research shows farmers value hedges

And would plant more … providing the government provides the right incentive

New research conducted by CPRE, the Countryside Charity, in conjunction with Farmers Weekly, has shown that almost 90% of farmers say hedgerows are important to them and their business. The vast majority are also calling for more government support with 70% of farmers saying they’d plant more hedgerows given the right incentives.

Providing a vital nature corridor on farms was seen as the top benefit of hedgerows, followed by shelter for crops and livestock. Eight in ten farmers support a target to increase hedgerows by 40% by 2050, as recommended by the government’s Climate Change Committee as a key climate and nature recovery goal.

The results of the survey were announced at a reception at the Houses of Parliament, attended by representatives of CPRE Hampshire, who have been working over the last eighteen months to spread the word about the importance of hedges, through their own “Hedgerow Heroes” project. Boyd McCleary, Vice Chair of CPRE Hampshire, who attended the launch, said “The report confirms what we have found in our own work here in Hampshire. Farmers really value hedgerows and would love to do more, both to extend them and maintain existing hedgerows more effectively.”

Richard Stiles, who farms in Titchfield near Fareham, was also at the Westminster event, agreed: “Many of our old hedgerows have either disappeared completely, or are in a poor state of repair. I am delighted to be working with CPRE Hampshire, not only to plant new hedges, but also to learn the traditional craft of hedge-laying. It gives old hedges a new lease of life, creating more attractive boundaries for the farm, better habitat for wildlife and a means of generating and storing carbon, which is beneficial in terms of climate change.”

Flick Drummond, MP for Meon Valley, took the opportunity to sign up as a parliamentary Hedgerow Hero: “I am happy to support the work CPRE are doing to raise awareness of this issue. We have lost too many of our hedges over the last few decades. It is time to reverse that trend. A 40% increase in our hedgerow network by 2050 is an achievable target and I am pleased that the government is aiming to provide support for environmental stewardship under the proposed Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs).”

As part of its Hedgerow Heroes project, CPRE Hampshire is supporting local communities across Hampshire to plant new hedgerows or rejuvenate old ones. They are also setting up two traineeships to teach young persons the traditional craft of hedge-laying.