Hello! I’m Eco Gecko, a lizard who LOVES ecology!

Why? Well, whenever you feel lonely ecology reminds us that all living things are connected – and that includes you!

Ecology is all about finding out how living things and the environment work together. I think that’s pretty cool.

Hedges are great places for all sort of wildlife.  They form one of the most widespread wildlife habitats in the UK, home to both common and rare species and offer many opportunities for practical ecology in a terrestrial environment.

What is a hedge?

Hedges very simply are a living fence or wall between neighbours, farmers, private and public land, but they are also much more than that.    They can be predominantly one single plant species, such as Leylandii or ancient hedgerows made up of many plant species.

Man has been laying hedges for so long that they are an essential part of UK ecology.  Many of our species survive only because we have hedgerows

Why are hedges important?

Hedges provide shelter, food and nesting for a wide range of species as well as acting as corridors between woodlands in otherwise agricultural landscapes.
Hedgerow habitat action plans

Hedgerows are listed as a priority habitat for conservation where the main focus of activity lies on improving the quality of existing hedgerows and working with others such as landowners and farmers to reduce hedgerow loss and damage.

Creating and maintaining a hedge

When planting a new hedge, there are many factors to take into consideration.  The best hedges for children will include a range of native plants, shrubs and trees appropriate for the regional climate and the local soil.

Good hedge species include alder, ash, blackthorn, birch, crab apple, dog rose, english elm, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, holly, honeysuckle, hornbeam, ivy, wild cherry, willow, and others.  Almost all native species can be sourced from reputable suppliers; it is worth checking garden centre stock carefully as often there might be ornamental and non native species on offer.

Traditionally planting a hedge (hedgelaying) varies according to where in the UK you might be and what the hedge might have been used for, schools however can plant good hedges simply by digging a trench and ensuring their whips/saplings are spaced evenly and in a straight line.

Hedges will grow by themselves, but will need a little love and attention, especially when near paths.  But remember, never cut or trim a hedge during the bird nesting season, otherwise you’ll disturb the new baby birds (and perhaps meet any angry adult bird!)

Leaves are the powerhouses of the hedgerow ecosystem, fixing the energy that everything depends on.  Although many are superficially similar, each species of plant has distinctive leaves reflecting their different evolutionary histories and the ecological pressures that have driven their evolution.

The identification of hedgerow shrubs and trees and other plants growing in a hedgerow provides an excellent starting point for the development of some basic plant identification skills. The number of shrubs that make up a hedge is an important attribute of the hedgerow and has been used in the past to distinguish older from newer hedgerows (older hedgerows were thought to gain woody species at the rate of one per century) but recent planting schemes have encouraged the planting of new hedges with a high diversity of native shrubs and trees, so diversity is not a reliable guide to age.  However, it is likely that a more diverse hedge will house a greater diversity of invertebrates and other animals – certainly something worth investigating with an enthusiastic class.

Find out more about at www.britishecologicalsociety.org/hedge resources

Download a hedge poster

Click here to download a wall chart all about hedges.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about ecology, then check out the British Ecological Society at www.britishecologicalsociety.org