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HEDGE THREAD. Sadly, there are a great many hedges in #Cumbria that look like this. I'm not sure it's even fair to call this a hedge really, though it certainly used to be one. Worth considering how something so sad and useless came into being.
Once upon a time, hedges were essential in order to split land into smaller fields. Species like hawthorn and blackthorn were used most commonly, being thorny enough to keep the animals at bay.
Keeping hedges stockproof was in the farmers interest and lots of work went into keeping them thick and impregnable through periodic laying and gapping up. But when wire fences came along, hedges fell out of fashion.
Wire fences are cheaper, easier to install and manage and often more effective than hedges. But a fence doesn't have flowers, give space for birds to nest, or provide any shelter to livestock. Here's some bird cherry, a bee magent, growing in a hedge at @WildHaweswater
The post-war drive for food security accelerated the decline of the hedge, with subsidies paid to remove them in order to increase efficiency. 4,400km were removed a year between 1984 and 1990 (source: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/conservation-and-sustainability/advice/conservation-land-management-advice/farm-hedges/history-of-hedgerows/)
The decline in hedges was in part down to their direct removal, but also due to inappropriate management. When a hedge is managed only through regular flailing like this one, it's basically doomed.
This sort of management happens because farmers are squeezed by low food prices and the need to maximise production volume to compensate. Too many have neither the time or the money to look after their hedges properly.
But, with the right support, replanting hedges, and bringing them back into proper management can happen. @UllswaterCic, @herdyshepherd1 and many other farmers & conservationists across @lakedistrictnpa are planting literally miles of new hedge. https://twitter.com/UllswaterCic/status/1335579180021506048?s=20
@WildLakeland and @JRfromStrickley and loads of other folk do brilliant hedge-laying, which keeps a hedge alive, thick and fantastic for wildlife. https://twitter.com/WildLakeland/status/1337044623504658434?s=20
A proper, thick, species rich hedge isn't only good for wildlife, it's also a massive benefit for farming. Even a small amount of shelter from the wind boosts grass growth. A good #hedge gives livestock somewhere to shelter, and the leaves and berries diversify their diet.
There's been lots in the news recently about trees being planted in the wrong places - https://www.channel4.com/news/forestry-commission-admits-it-was-wrong-to-allow-trees-to-be-planted-on-peat-bogs
Hedges are one of the right places, and collectively could make a massive contribution to #tree planting targets to help fight #climatechange
Hedges are one of the right places, and collectively could make a massive contribution to #tree planting targets to help fight #climatechange
Like many others, we're planning lots more hedges at @WildHaweswater, using trees we'll grow ourselves in our nursery. Hedges are good. Let's bring them back to life.
