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Plant a new Wildlife Hedge

Where: 

  • Edges of gardens, fields, or anywhere you would like to create a new boundary or windbreak. A new hedgerow that connects preexisting hedgerows and other natural habitats will increase its biodiversity value.
  • Avoid planting in areas already rich in biodiversity e.g. species-rich wildflower meadow, or areas within a protected or designated habitat.
  • Avoid planting in waterlogged soil (unless the chosen tree can cope with these conditions e.g. Willows or Alder).

What: Shrubs and trees of native provenance

  • Choose native trees grown from native stock in Ireland – they are best adapted to local climate, reduce the risk of introducing diseases or pests, and will provide better habitat for wildlife.
  • Planting a mix of native woody shrubs, interspersed with occasional native trees will provide structural diversity and more benefits to nature. E.g. one tree that will be allowed to reach maturity every 30m. Anymore and the mature trees will shade out the hedge shrubs in the long term, so reducing its value. Examples of hedgerow trees – Blackthorn, Whitethorn, Hazel, Wild Rose, Honeysuckle, Holly, Crab Apple, Goat Willow, Grey Willow, Pedunculate Oak, Rowan, Sessile Oak and Wild Cherry.
  • Check what is already growing well in your area and choose species that suit your local soil conditions, wind exposure. E.g. damp sites often support trees like Willow, Alder and Birch. Mountain ash and Whitethorn are well suited to exposed areas, while Oak and Cherry like fertile soils.)

When: Winter

  • The best time of year to plant is when the roots are dormant as they are less easily disturbed by the moving process – typically, from mid-November to February.

How: There are many ways, and this is just one of them!

  • Saplings should be planted as soon as possible after receipt. Protect roots from frost and drying out by keeping them in a bag, then soak in water for 30 minutes before planting.
  • Plant a double row of two-year old bareroot saplings in a zig zag pattern with 50cm between trees in same row, and 40 – 50cm between the two parallel rows. For a wider hedge, plant a triple row.
  • Dig a hole, trench, or create a slit wide enough to take the roots.
  • Ensure the root collar (thicker section where stem joins roots) is level with the soil surface and roots are not exposed. Fill in around the roots with soil and firm soil down around the sapling. Water.
  • Prune all saplings (except holly) to 10-15cm (above a bud at 45 degrees angle) immediately after planting. Pruning will result in multiple new stems and a dense hedgerow.
  • Protect from grazing animals and suppress vegetation around the saplings by regular trampling or using biodegradable matting or mulch e.g. bark.

 

Care for your hedgerow: For the first few years of its life or until the hedge is established, keep grass and competing vegetation around the shrubs down by regularly trampling around them (cut grass tends to grow faster than trampled). Bindweed and Cleavers can swamp young hedges so pull these if they are a problem. If grazers are present, fence at least 2-metres out from the hedgerow base. This will allow for a biodiverse field margin to develop. The ideal hedgerow for wildlife is tall, wide and dense at the base, with a wide, uncultivated, grassy margin. If trimming is needed delay as late as possible i.e. late January or February to allow the fruits to be eaten and cut once every three years at most, ideally less often. Hedges should not be cut between 1st March and 31st August (bird nesting season). Avoid using sprays or fertilisers near hedgerows as they have a negative effect on the variety of plants and animals that live there.

Benefits: Hedgerows provide wildlife with food, nest sites and shelter. They are important highways for mammals, especially bats, birds and insects, as they move through the landscape. Woody shrubs and trees capture carbon and can help improve soil drainage.

 

Further info