Contact us
Visit CPRE.org
Donate
Youngwilders and CPRE partner to celebrate hedges in Hampshire
On Saturday 21st February, over 60 young people (18-30 years) gathered to plant hedges in three locations: Cheshire, Hampshire and Kent.
On Saturday 21st February, more than sixty young people aged 18–30 came together to celebrate nature in the most hands‑on way: by planting hedgerows. Spread across three locations in Cheshire, Hampshire and Kent, volunteers took part in the first-ever Hedgentines Day, a nationwide event dedicated to learning about, loving, and restoring England’s iconic hedgerows.
Supported through CPRE’s Hedgerow Heroes project, now in its fifth year and aiming to restore 27 miles of hedgerow across the country, the day combined practical conservation, climate action and youth empowerment.
In Hampshire alone, 25 young people joined in, helping to create over 600 metres of new hedgerow across farmland sites at the three different locations.
Hedgentines Day was designed as a joyful declaration of love from young people to nature — and particularly to the humble hedgerow, whose value is often overlooked. Newly planted hedges will help tackle soil erosion, store carbon, provide wildlife corridors and boost local biodiversity for decades to come.
The event was delivered in partnership with CPRE, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and Youngwilders, encouraging young adults to gain practical skills and confidence in countryside environments. Through hands‑on planting, workshops and training, participants learned how to create, care for and champion hedgerows in their own communities.
Jack Durant, co-director of Youngwilders, said: ‘There are few higher-leverage actions for restoring nature in the UK than planting hedgerows. Hedges are biodiversity banks; they provide crucial landscape connectivity, and they’re an agricultural asset. They’re also a deep part of our cultural heritage. We now see the impact of their removal; all that’s left is to bring them back!’
Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: ‘Hedgerows are a vital part of the landscapes we love. They shape our countryside, but they are also incredible carbon stores and superhighways for nature. We’ve campaigned for years for the government to set ambitious targets for growing our network of hedgerows and through Hedgerow Heroes we are practising what we preach. The project is powered by amazing volunteers across the country and working with Youngwilders is a great opportunity to connect with passionate young people who want to share some love for the nature on their doorstep.’
To ensure the day was accessible to as many young people as possible, Youngwilders helped remove barriers to participation by coordinating car shares from nearby train stations and reimbursing public transport costs — making it easier for anyone to get involved, regardless of background or location.
Hedgentines Day has set the stage for a new annual tradition where young people come together, connect with nature and take action for a healthier rural landscape — one hedge at a time.
