Metro Mayor visits Hedgerow Heroes Team

Before Christmas Metro Mayor Dan Norris visited our team of volunteers to see hedgelaying in action along Yate Common cycle path.

The Hedgerow Heroes project, partly funded by The West of England Combined Authority (WECA), sees volunteers get involved with hedgerow conservation across Bath and South Gloucestershire.

Hedgelaying is a traditional way of managing hedgerows that has been a part of our countryside for hundreds of years. This method involves using ‘billhooks’ to cut and bend the stem near the base, promoting regrowth from the ground up.

Left unmanaged, hedgerows continue to grow and will eventually form a line of trees. Retaining hedgerows is vital as they provide shelter for a myriad of birds, mammals and insects. 

Restoration of existing hedgerows has more benefits than simply planting new hedgerows, as mature established habitats are much more important ecologically. New hedgerow creation requires years of growing and maintenance to reach the same level of quality of a mature, well-managed hedgerow.

These mature habitats are often under threat- most recently we have seen the removal of ancient hedgerow at Yew Tree Farm- Bristol’s last working farm in favour of development.

At CPRE we have a long history of campaigning for hedgerow protection and are currently working to prevent degradation through our Hedgerow Heroes work. We have groups of volunteers planting and sustainably maintaining hedgerows across BANES and South Gloucestershire. We work with local councils to protect and manage council-owned hedgerows for the benefit of nature.

To support active hedgerow protection in the Southwest please Make a donation with – CPRE Avon and Bristol. To find out more or volunteer with Hedgerow Heroes in your area follow Volunteer with Hedgerow Heroes – CPRE Avon and Bristol.