Hedgerows
Hedgerows play an enormously important role in the countryside. Read on to find out more about them, what we’re doing to support them and what you can do to be involved.
We walk or drive past them all the time. They’re functional, useful in dividing our land and helping to create a path for us to follow. Perhaps one of the more humble and understated features of our beautiful countryside in Hampshire, the hedgerow actually plays an enormously important role in the health and diversity of our land, our wildlife and even our climate.
We hope you find this ‘Hedgerow Hub’ of use. We have worked to pull together lots of valuable information and resources that you can use to learn more about hedgerows, their extraordinary benefits and what you can do to help them thrive and survive. It also provides further information, the latest news and updates, on CPRE Hampshire’s own hedgerow initiatives. Scroll down for further resources and useful links.
Hampshire Hedgerow Heroes initiative – what CPRE Hampshire are doing
Hedgerows are the vital stitching in the patchwork of our countryside. Not only are they beautiful, with shifting seasonal colours, but they also provide homes and corridors for wildlife. And all the while they help tackle the climate crisis by capturing carbon from the air and storing it in plants, slowing climate change.
In recognition of this, CPRE Hampshire are delighted to be working with CPRE National and other CPRE regional branches to produce a series of Hedgerow Hero initiatives of our own, including The Hampshire Hedge.
Find out more about:
Keep scrolling down for more information and further resources on the value and importance of hedgerows and how and why we need to look after them.
Take Action – sign our petition
We’d like to see more hedgerows planted and restored. That’s why we support the Climate Change Committee’s call for a 40% increase in the extent of hedgerows by 2050 to help tackle the climate emergency.
We want the government to commit to 40% more hedgerows by 2050. Sign our petition to help make it happen.
Be a Hedgerow Hero
Further hedgerow resources
Keep scrolling for links to further resources, guides, articles and news about hedgerows.
Resources for schools
We have a full set of educational material about hedgerows designed specifically for KS1 and KS2.
View CPRE ‘Hedgerow detective’ lesson plans
Free online talk
What have hedges ever done for you? …. and what we can do for them. Hosted by CPRE Hampshire and featuring special guest Megan Gimber from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.
- A Little Rough Guide Around Hedges from CPRE – with some information this leaflet gives some history on hedgerows, why they are so important and what plant species you might spot on your local hedges.
- Article from CPRE on ‘The Natural History of Hedgerows’.
- Article from CPRE on ‘Hedgerows through the seasons’.
- More about Hedgelaying from Claire Maymon, a hedge layer and trustee at the National Hedgelaying Society.
- Fun Stuff! Do you think you know your hedgerow info? Or interested in learning a bit more. Take our Hedgerows Quiz and see if you get top marks.
- CPRE Shropshire have their own hedgerow initiative include a series of online zoom talks about all things hedgerow. Spaces get booked out fast so take a look and book your spot now.
- Our downloadable Hedge Pledge for children – and adults – to make their official pledge to be a Hedgerow Hero.
- Hedgerow Game – ‘Hedgerow’ the board game. Find your way through the hedgerow with our fun and beautifully illustrated ‘Hedgerow Game’.
- Getting ‘Hedgeucated’ with Hedge Link. ‘Hedgeucation’ has been designed by Devon County Council so there is some county specific information. However, it still provides lots of information, inspiration and ideas that would be great for primary school aged children.
- The Soil Association on ‘Why hedgerows are so important‘
We are very fortunate at CPRE Hampshire to have many great partners to work with on projects such as our Hedgerow Initiative. The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) have helped to educate our volunteers on wildlife hedge surveys, offered talks to members and supporters and provided some fantastic material for us to share, like the illustration of the hedgerow management cycle below.
Also from PTES is this fantastic illustration, visually demonstrating the benefits of hedgerows.
Another great resource is their History of Hedgerows visual guide. Take a look at their website to find out more about PTES, other information and resources they have available and the work they do.
Hedgerows Latest News
Prince Charles speaks of importance of UK hedgerows. Dec 2021
Turning over a new leaf: the humble hedge stages a remarkable comeback – October 2021
New research and report from CPRE on ‘Investing in hedgerows for climate, nature and the economy.’ September 2021
Hedgerows are overlooked in the new government action plans. May 2021
Hedgerows can address climate change says new report. July 2019
Hedgerow highlights milestones from CPREs 95 years of campaigning.
Other Hedgerow Resources
Hedgelink is a partnership that brings together everyone interested in hedgerows. The website has lots of informative and useful information for everything and anything you want to know about the fabulous British hedgerow. Materials specifically designed for children are also available.
The Tree Council are also another great resource and well worth a visit.
The Tree Council’s ‘Close the Gap’ Community Hedge Fund can provide up to 100% grants for volunteer Tree Wardens and community groups in England to plant new hedgerows, hedgerow trees and gap up existing hedgerows in winter 2021/22. Planting can be in rural or urban areas on private or public land where the community will benefit.
The Tree Council’s ‘Orchards for Schools’ includes a free pack of fruit-bearing, wildlife-enhancing, carbon-storing orchard or fruiting hedgerow for schools. Teachers also receive an exciting set of resources, designed by teachers, that are linked to the national curriculum.