Create a Dead Hedge
A wonderful way to turn woody cuttings into a valuable dead wood habitat.
Where:
- Anywhere you would like to create a screen, subdivide an area, create a wind barrier (say for vegetable beds), stockproof gaps in a hedge/wall, or simply a handy location.
- Avoid constructing on areas already rich in biodiversity e.g. species-rich wildflower meadow or where there is woodland flora.
When: Anytime but easier done shortly after cuttings generated.
How:
- Get ready: you will need at least 6 sturdy stakes/garden posts or thick wood cuttings (e.g. 3-6cm diameter) that are 30cm or so taller than you’d like the hedge to be, a mallet, and strong secateurs or loppers.
- Create a row of posts with the posts 1-1.5m apart.
- Create a parallel row about 50-60 cm from the first.
- Weave flexible, woody cuttings between the stakes to create a basket effect but leave a gap somewhere at the bottom to let creatures like hedgehogs access the base of the dead hedge. Fill the centre with the remaining brash.
- It’s a good idea to put some longer, thicker branches and sticks in first, to create a stronger structure. Use your loppers or secateurs to cut them to the right length and place them inside.
- As the contents rot down over time, top them up with any new woody cuttings you have.
Benefits: Dead wood is a whole ecosystem in itself, whether in the form of dead-standing trees, dropped branches, log or brash piles, and dead hedges. As it is broken down by fungi, decaying wood is munched by insect larvae, woodlice and millipedes. Spiders, slugs, snails, worms, beetles, springtails, flies and frogs will all use dead wood for shelter, with the invertebrates forming a key part of the food chain that will support amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Over the years, the carbon in the wood is slowly returned to the soil and living systems rather than being released to the atmosphere in one go, as it is when burnt.
Further info:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/garden/pledge/hedge