Hedgerows could be seen as a magical tool to help achieve Chew Valley Plants Trees’ objective of doubling tree cover in the area.

Hedgerows are described by the Tree Council as the ‘often unsung hero of the British countryside’ - They form the UK’s largest wildlife habitat and are crucial to halting biodiversity decline and tackling climate change.

In the last 75 years, the UK has lost 50% of its hedgerows. So, the relatively simple act of reinstating some of the ‘lost’ hedgerows around the valley, as well as planting new ones, would help us achieve our objective, whilst at the same time increasing wildlife corridors, creating boundaries, providing shelter for livestock or crops, capturing carbon and providing ever-more beautiful framing to our picturesque fields.

With National Hedgerow week upon us, (May 6-12 see https://treecouncil.org.uk/seasonal-campaigns/national-hedgerow-week/) we thought it apt to write about some recent local endeavours planting new hedgerows, as well as some worrying developments nationally.

In March, two separate locations in Chew Stoke were recipients of trees for planting out over 130m of hedgerows. Many of these came from the Woodland Trust as community tree packs of many hedgerow varieties. Rectory Fields had a short hedge planted to create a visual and sound barrier between the field and the main road driving through the village. Further hedgerow varieties were planted as under-storeys for the already well-established trees planted more than 30 years ago.

Cook’s Meadow is a recently established area of trees and open wildflower meadow, bequeathed to the parish for the benefit of local people for the enjoyment of nature. Here, a new hedge over 120 metres long was planted with the help of over a dozen volunteers that will, in time, create a useful barrier from the wind and the livestock beyond whilst retaining stunning views and enhancing biodiversity. The participation of local folk in both sites’ planting generates great community cheer in such an effort. 

At the same time as we make efforts locally to enhance the status of hedgerows, nationally we see failings to protect them. Due to leaving EU Cross Compliance regulations, since the beginning of 2024, there has been a loss of environmental protection for hedgerows. Though the Government announced on 4th March plans to protect English hedgerows with new domestic regulations, we still await legislation to be passed. 

By Chew Valley Plants Trees