Volunteers Lay Hedges to Restore Green Networks for Local Wildlife

Published on: 6 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 9 Mar, 2022

Essentially laying a hedge allows the component trees to regenerate allowing continuity in the hedgerow, extending its life.

Local volunteers are working to restore and preserve our hedgerows as part of a partnership between Guildford Borough Council and Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Hedgerow Heritage Project.

The project plants and restores the traditional landscape of the North Downs and Surrey Hills AONB. By partnering with Surrey Wildlife Trust, which runs the project, the council is creating volunteer opportunities for people to learn vital green skills to protect nature and help wildlife thrive.

Cllr James Steel

Lead councillor for Environment, James Steel (Lib Dem, Westborough), said: “A huge thank you to our dedicated team of volunteers who are restoring hedgerows at Chantry Wood. The wood is one of our largest countryside sites, best known for its magnificent bluebell display in early spring, and a campsite. It offers wonderful space for wildlife and countryside escape for people too.

“So far, everyone involved has been expanding their knowledge of the local wildlife while learning traditional hedge laying. The skill of traditional hedge-laying is declining despite the many ecological benefits it offers.

Without the regeneration caused by the laying the hedge will mature and start to die.

“Hedges support wildlife and biodiversity, providing a thriving ecosystem for rare species such as the small blue butterfly, brown long-eared bats, and birds such as yellowhammers. It’s fantastic that we can attract these creatures to our green spaces again.”

A council spokesperson said: “Working with the Hedgerow Heritage Project is just one of the ways that we are enhancing the traditional landscape of our local countryside. Each year in our borough we carefully maintain our hedges, verges and trees.

“We carry out regular inspections on trees at our parks, countryside sites, car parks, cemeteries and all council housing land. We maintain over 3.8 million square metres of grass across Guildford.

Here saplings have been planted which can eventually be laid to form a hedge.

“The project is open for anyone to get involved. With over two kilometres of hedges there are endless opportunities. Visit the project website for more information or register your interest in becoming a volunteer.

Under the expert supervision of members of the Surrey Hedgerow Group in December 2021, a volunteer group of mainly Duke of Edinburgh students laid part of the hedge at the campsite at Chantry Woods.

The project, run by Surrey Wildlife Trust and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, provides opportunities for the communities to restore and plant hedgerows on sites in the North Downs and Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB).

Katy Fielding, hedgerow heritage project officer at Surrey Wildlife Trust, said: “Hedgerows are like a silver bullet for climate change and wildlife in urban, suburban or rural areas. They already store nine million tonnes of carbon in the UK and take up a lot less space than forests. Put simply, hedgerows provide one of the most convenient and compact climate change solutions there is.

“Protecting us from wind, flooding, drought, pollution and soil erosion. Hedgerows also provide safe passage, shelter, roosting opportunities, an all-year-round food source for birds, bats, bees, butterflies and dormouse to name a few. They pack a big punch for their size, and we want to get everyone planting and laying hedgerows from back gardens through woods and open farmlands.”

More can be found about how parks, trees and green spaces are maintained here.

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