Donate Online Oxfordshire Hedgerow Heroes Project

“Before the advent of the flail hedge trimmer (only 50 years ago), hedges were cut and laid in a circa 10-year cycle, so only 10% were cut in any one year. There were also more hedges – and the remaining 90% of uncut hedges would have been of varying growth stages. Hedgerows were the countryside’s larder – pink and white with blossom in the spring, and red with fruit in the autumn. Every living creature had a corridor linking to the diverse farmland around.”  Rob Crocker, Oxfordshire Farmer

The Watlington Hedgerow Project is a fantastic example of community action to survey, rejuvenate and extend their surrounding hedgerow network. Watch their short film to find out about what they are doing and why:

How to survey the condition of a hedgerow using the People‘s Trust for Endangered Species methodology

Management – Hedges have to be managed otherwise they become a line of trees. But management has to be sympathetically carried out and over-management as well as neglect can be a threat to hedges. Over-management is caused by excessively tight trimming every year over a long period. It is more typically seen on single species hawthorn hedges, which in time form a bottomless “mushroom” shape and slowly die out. See Hedgelink’s helpful guide here:Download
How to plant a new hedgeDownload

Funding opportunities for hedgerow creation and rejuvenation

Oxfordshire’s very own Rob Crocker talks (and sings) to
Eynsham’s Local Nature Recovery Network about the glory of hedges

Hedgelink is a national organisation and a fantastic source of management advice and all hedge related information

Oxfordshire hedgerow suppliers of Supplier of native Hedgerow & Woodland Plants:

Find a hedgelaying contractor near you