What was the purpose of hedgerows?
What was the purpose of hedgerows? Hedgerows are plantings of dense vegetation (perennial grasses, shrubs, and small trees) along the edges of agricultural fields. They serve as a windbreak as well as a way to add biodiversity and create habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife. They also increase carbon storage in biomass and soils.
What is the origin of hedgerows?
“Hedgerows are lines of shrubs which were originally planted to mark ownership and provide a barrier to prevent the movement of stock such as sheep and cattle,” she says. “In the UK, many were planted as part of the Enclosures Acts in the early 19th century, however, many are much older than this.
How much hedgerow has been lost in the UK?
Despite being so beneficial for nature and wildlife, hedgerows have been in rapid decline over the past eighty years or more with over 300,000 miles of hedgerow lost in the UK since 1945.
Why did farmers plant hedgerows?
Hedges were often placed for good reasons, like preventing soil erosion. They also help reinforce the character of the local landscape. You can look at old maps to see where there used to be historic boundaries on your land. Lines of mature trees within fields may also show the route of old hedgerows.
What is the oldest hedgerow in England?
The oldest known surviving hedgerow in England is the so-called Judith's Hedge, Cambridgeshire, at over 900 years old!