Hedgerow Trees

Hedgerow trees are important for so much wildlife. Over half of the priority BAP species associated with hedgerows are dependent, or partially dependent on, hedgerow trees. Bats for example roost in crevices and holes. Many birds make there home also in holes or in nests in the tree crown and often use trees as song posts. Lichens grow on the stem and many insects require some of our native species as part of their life cycle. Oaks for example has many hundred insects living on them. hedgerow trees

Hedgerow trees are important in our landscape

young tree stands clear of hedgerow

 

A young tree stands clear of a 6 year old hedge and is visible to the hedge trimmer

Please contact us for any advice on either managing existing trees or new plantings.

The future of hedgerow trees

green hedgerow trees

Hedgerow trees provide a wonderful wildlife habitat.

There is a problem however with the future stock of hedgerow trees. The scarcity of young hedgerow trees to replace mature ones when they die is a major cause of concern: across Great Britain, the number of isolated hedgerow trees fell by as much as 3.9% just between 1997 and 2007. A further 15,000 -20,000 new hedgerow trees need to be recruited to the population each year just to keep the population stable.

Each landowner can do their bit and even just a couple of trees a year will help. If you have a gap in your hedgerow for example, then why not plant a tree in it rather than replant the hedge. This way the new tree has no competition and the machine trimmer will not so easily damage it. The easiest time to plant trees in your hedge is at the time of planting a new hedge but they will need to be tagged so that the hedge cutter can see where they are.

Facts and figures on this page is taken from ‘Key messages on the importance of hedgerows’ Hedgelink….

http://www.hedgelink.org.uk/importance-hedges-and-hedgerows.htm