Our countryside decline in wildlife, particularly following a government-led initiative to remove many hedgerows in the 1960’s and then the increased level of ‘chemical farming’ during the 1970’s, is now a well-known fact. No longer do we see plovers or turtle doves in our fields. Cirl buntings, corn buntings, yellow hammers and partridge are rare in our hedgerows. The corncrakes and quails are long gone, and this decline is not limited to birds. There are fewer hares and the loss of smaller mammals such as the shrew, field mouse and dormouse, is significant due to the loss of hedges. There’s a similar loss of plant life, reptiles, amphibians and a myriad of insect life (including our important pollinators).
In the West County we are very fortunate to have more hedges than any other part of the UK. They have inestimable value for so much of our wildlife. Hedges provide highways for birds to travel along and to nest and to hide from the sparrow hawk. The roe deer shelter and browse, the hedgehog makes his home, and the wildflowers have their last stronghold. Many of Devon’s hedges are over 600 years old and some are thought to date from Neolithic times.
In addition to wildlife, hedgerows play an important role in ensuring soils remain healthy as they reduce the impact of drought and flooding. Water run-off from fields can wash many tonnes of soil into rivers such as the Tale and on to the Otter and hence to the sea. One inch of soil takes over 500 years to form, so protecting it is really important. The potential to provide food for wildlife is one huge advantage of hedges, especially those containing hazel, brambles, hawthorn, ivy, elder, blackthorn, wild roses and rowan as well as the seeds provided by flowers and grasses.
Unfortunately, for many of our hedges, this source of food is denied to the wildlife by the brutal tractor-mounted flail machine. Many hedges are given a severe shortback-and-sides where fruit does not survive. The flail machine is a quick and efficient way to cut hedges and, apart from the odd enthusiast, we are unlikely to resort to the hedge laying and clipping of bygone days, although hedge laying is the best option for increased biodiversity. Repeated flail cutting at the same point causes gnarled, unhealthy hedges unless it is handled with skill and some sensitivity for wildlife. If you are lucky enough to own a hedge or have the room to plant one, you could significantly improve our habitat for fauna and flora.
Many of our hedges could be cut less frequently, biennially rather than annually for example. Ideally, they could be cut to provide an apex rather than a flat top, to make it harder for the wily magpie who hops along the tops of flat hedges cocking his head as he looks for eggs and nestlings. Furthermore, allowing hedges to grow taller and wider would provide better protection for nesting birds as well as allowing a few saplings to be tagged and left to mature into trees. It is wonderful to see that nowadays space is often left either side of hedges for wildflowers, grasses and homes for voles. Hedgerows are an extremely valuable ecological asset. Let’s take great care of them.
Andrew Renshaw