What is the history of the Cornish hedge?
What is the history of the Cornish hedge? History & Function Some of the Cornish hedges date back as far as the Bronze age, making them as old as the Egyptian Pyramids. As Cornish hedges are classed as semi-natural habitats, they can be interpreted as indicators of the Cornwall AONB Management Plan.
Why are Cornish hedges so high?
A Cornish hedge is essentially an earth bank faced with stones (usually granite), with the largest placed on the bottom. Some reach heights of 5 metres, and often, trees or shrubs stand on top, making them even taller. The added shrubbery reduces wind speed, sheltering the enclosed animals and crops.
How old are the Cornish Walls?
The earliest Cornish hedges enclosed land for cereal crops during the Neolithic age, 4000 - 6000 years ago.
What is the famous hedge in England?
The Meikleour Beech Hedge, four miles south of Blairgowrie is the longest hedge in Britain and the highest of its kind in the world. Recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the highest hedge in the world, the Meikleour Beech Hedge was planted in 1745 and is one third of a mile long (530 m) and 100 ft (30 m) high.