• help prevent soil erosion and water run-off
• provide shelter and stock control
• provide an important habitat for wildlife.
Hedgerows which are especially ancient or species-rich are often viewed as the defining character of the English landscape.
The Hedgerows Regulations 1997 are designed to protect important hedgerows from damage or destruction. These regulations concern those hedgerows found in the countryside and not those around a domestic property. Further information on the regulations, and what makes a hedgerow important, can be found in the hedgerow factsheet.
Most importantly it must be remembered that with any hedgerow it is:
• good practice to avoid trimming between 1 March - 31 July (bird nesting season)
• best to leave trimming until the end of the winter
• good practice to avoid over management as it can be detrimental to conservation. Taller, bushier hedgerows provide more wildlife potential than smaller, thinner hedges.
Several of the Trust's sites have important hedgerows including Roadford and Wimbleball. At Roadford Lake over 5500 metres of hedgerow has been restored since 2002 under the Countryside Stewardship agreement.
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows are a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat - find out more in the Hedgerows factsheet.