"The Four Features - The Hedgerow"

Until quite recently hedgerows were a major feature of the countryside. They provided habitats for a variety of species of wildlife especially birds and small mammals. Their spring blossom would provide pollen and nectar for several species of insects while their autumn bounty of nuts and berries provided food for birds and small mammals. But as with so much else they have been destroyed to make larger fields to grow food for the ever-increasing human population. That's the bad news; the good news is that we can recreate these habitats by growing a variety of trees and shrubs to encourage wildlife into our urban spaces.

The following lists of hedgerow plants should help you to choose which ones to incorporate in your hedgerow. Your choice will depend on the size of the area where you intend to create your hedge. The spacing will determine the density of the hedgerow. Plant one foot apart or three plants per metre for a suitably thick hedge. You could of course leave a row of trees to grow to maturity, realise their potential as we all would. The next row could also be trees but clipped to form a hedge. The next row, shrubs, would also need to be kept in check. The last row would be the woodland edge flowers that prefer a dappled shade.

Preparing the Ground

If there are plants already there and they are beneficial to wildlife, then you can either plan your hedge around them, or you can take them out and replant them elsewhere. If there are any trees there, then they will, of course, have to stay. But be careful when you're digging and not damage their roots. Assuming then that you are starting of with a clear strip of ground about three or four metres wide. Prepare the ground as you did with the cultivated area by double digging. Incorporate a lot of organic matter and use some of the soil from the grass that was taken up for the wildflower meadow. If you are going to leave trees to mature, remember that the spacing should take into account the spread of the foliage. Plant the shrubs with enough pace between them to grow into. Mulch with leaf mould, cardboard or anything that will suppress weeds and then rot down. Once planted they must be watered while the roots are establishing themselves.

Wall or stout fence smothered with ivy

Trees left to mature

Trees & shrubs clipped to form a hedge

Cultivated shrubs

Woodland-edge wildflowers

If you are planting in the autumn then use what are known as 'whips'. These are 2-3 year old plants that are in their dormant stage from November to April. They are also much cheaper and more manageable than plants with root balls. To stimulate root growth trim the 'whips' by cutting off some of their side shoots and about one third from the top. The best time to trim your hedge is in the winter during the dormant phase. Try not to trim too vigorously as your hedge will need to flower to be any use to wildlife.

Planting Tips

Never have delivered more trees and shrubs than you can plant in one day. If you do have any left, soak them in buckets of water or plastic bags to keep them moist. Dig the holes before the plants arrive. Make sure that the roots fit in the holes with the roots spread out. There is a mark on the saplings that will show you the level where it used to stand in the ground. Tie a stick (broomstick) at this point, then lower the plant into the hole with the stick suspending the plant over the hole. Fill the hole with your mixture of organic matter and (blood, fish & bone) fertiliser; then firm in with your heel so as to prevent any air pockets. Do not raise the level of the planting so that it forms a mound where water will just drain off; water in. Spread leaf mould over the area, scatter your choice of woodland wildflower seeds, water again then watch and wait for the following spring when you'll see all your hard work rewarded.

	Common Name	Latin Name	Variety	D/E **	Flowers	Colour	Berries	Attributes	Height	Spread
1	* Alder	Alnus Glutinosa	Tree	D	March	Purplish Brown	Catkins	Caterpillars of Moths & Butterflies	70'	10'
2	* Alder Buckthorn	Frangula Alnus	Tree	D	May to June	White	Red-Purple	Brimstone Caterpillars	20'	10'
3	Purging Blackthorn	Rhamnus Cathartica	Shrub	D	May to June	Yellow/Green	Red to Black	Brimstone Caterpillars	15'	10'
4	Blackthorn	Prunus Spinosa	Ornamental Plum "Purpura"	D	April	White	Sloes: Blue/Black	Butterflies, Birds & Bees	10-15'	10-15'
5	Berberis (Barberry)	B. Vulgaris	"Irwinii"	D	May to June	Yellow	Deep Red	Nesting	10'	10'
6	Berberis (Barberry)	B. Darwinii	"Firefly"	E	April & May	Bright Orange	Blue-Black	Indispensible	8-10'	8-10'
7	Berberis (Barberry)	B. Thunbergii Atropurpurea	"Nana"	D	April to May	Yellow	Scarlet	Nesting	4'	6'
8	Bramble	Rubus Fruiticosus	Species	D	May to Sept	White	Black	Butterflies, Birds & Bees	6-8'	8-10'
9	Cotoneaster (Hollyberry)	Bullatus	Bullatus	D	June	White or Pink	Bright Red	Arching Habit	8-12'	8-10'
10	Cotoneaster (Hollyberry)	Franchetti	Sterianus	E	June	White & Pink	Orange	Good for hedging	6-8'	5-6'
11	Cherry; Bird	Prunus Padus	"Purple Green"	E	May	Pink	Red	Butterflies, Birds & Bees	30'	15-20'
12	Common Elder	Sambucus Nigra	Tree	D	June	Creamy White	Black	Berries for Birds	12-15'	12-15'
13	Crab Apple	Malus Sylvestris	"Royalty"	D	March	White/Pink	Pink "apples"	90 Species of Insects	30'	20'
14	Dog Rose	Rosa Canina	"Rugosa"	D	May to June	Pink/White	Red Rose Hips	Butterflies, Birds & Bees	8'	6'
15	Hawthorn	Crataegus Monogyna	Tree	D	May to Autumn	White-Scented	Red Haws	Pollen - Nectar Berries	20'	10'
16	Hazel	Corylus Avelana	Tree	D	Jan/Mar; Sept/Oct	Pale Yellow	Catkins	Early Flowering	20'	10'
17	Holly	Ilex Aquifolium	Common Holly	E	May to August	White	Red	Need both male & female	25'	15'
18	Privet	Ligustrum Vulgare	The species	E	June & July	White	Black	Nesting	9'	9'
19	Pyracantha	Augustifolia	"Firethorn"	E	June & July	White	Orange	NE Facing	10'	10'
20	Mountain Ash	Sorbus	Sargentina	D	June	White	Red	Birds	15'	15'
* both need marshy ground ** deciduous or evergreen

There are many other woodland-edge wildflowers for you to choose from. The above list should help you select your preference. As with the cultivated area, if you do not have a greenhouse in which to grow plants from seeds, you can buy what are known as 'plugs'. These are plants about a few inches high with an established root system. These may be preferable to plants that are already a few seasons old. But for the woodland-edge, it might be better to grow your choice from seeds. There are several firms that specialise in wildflower seeds; Wildflowershop being one of the best. Just sprinkle the seeds over the prepared ground and wait for nature to take its wondrous course.

Because of their bulk, it may be better to grow these plants in the hedgerow/border.

Hebe Salicifolia 'Midsummer Beauty'
Hebe x franciscana 'Blue Gem'
Phlox
Schizanthus

For the attributes of these plants please refer to the 'Cultivated Plants' page. There are also climbers that could enhance your hedgerow/border by filling in any 'gaps' that may appear in your design. The following three are highly recommended and can be grown up trees, walls or established shrubs.

Ivy (Hedera Helix), the common English Ivy
Clematis vitalba (Traveller's-joy)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera Periclymenum )'Graham Thomas'

For further information look up 'Climbers for Wildlife'.

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	Name	Latin Name	Height	Flowers	Colour
1	Hedge Woundwort	Stachys sylvatica	30-100cm	July-August	Purple/Brown
2	Garlic Mustard	Alliaria petiola	30-100cm	May-July	White
3	White Deadnettle	Lamium album	60cm	May-Sept	White
4	Violet	Viola riviniana	15cm	Spring	Purple
5	Lesser Celendine	Ranunculus ficaria	25cm	March-May	Yellow
6	Primrose	Primula vulgaris	15-20cm	March-May	Yellow
7	Red Campion	Silene dioica	60-80cm	May-July	Pink
8	Foxglove	Digitalis purpurea	120cm	June-Sept	Pink
9	Cowslip	Primula veris	20cm	April/May	Yellow
10	Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	50-70cm	June-Sept	White, Pink & Red
11	Pink Purslane	Claytonia sibirica	15cm	April-July	Pink/White
12	Bluebell	Hyacinthoides non-scripta	from bulbs 15-40cm	April-May	Violet Blue