HEDGEROW RESTORATION PROJECT

Cambridge Cable are working with The Cambridge Green Belt Project to sponsor a Hedgerow Restoration Project which aims to encourage local people to survey, plant and influence the management of hedgerows. Hedgerows are an important part of the Cambridgeshire countryside that local people, appreciate whether its through their shelter in winter. collecting blackberries for pies or jam or sloes for sloe gin atChristmas. Years ago the hedgerow harvest supplied country folk with important nutrients and berries and nuts were collected and preserved for use throughtout the cold winter.
Many miles of hedgerow have been lost in the past through development and agriculture. The gappy state of many existing old hedges reduces their landscape and wildlife value. Although the land looks bleak and empty in winter there is constant wildlife activity in the thorny hedgerow thickets. Birds fly from as far as Scandinavia to feed on the berries. Many insects over winter as eggs, larvae, pupae or hibernating adults in hedgerows they in turn provide food for small mammals and
birds. Stoats and weasels use the sheltered passageways to stalk prey due to the lack of cover elsewhere. The first whisper of Spring can be seen in our hedgerows with Hazel Catkins out in February followed by Blackthorn in March.
In the Cambridge Green Belt Area there is a need for more hedgerows to be planted and old hedgerows to be surveyed and managed. You can estimate the age of a hedge by counting the different tree and shrubs species in a 30 metre stretch and multiplying the total by one hundred. Five species means a hedge that is about 500 years old.

The hedgerow restoration project will encourage local people to undertake hedgerow surveys in the parish or city area. " It is particularly important to identify and record our ancient hedgerows which often follow parish boundaries or public footpaths as they should take priority for care and management." said Sharon Hearle, Cambridge Green Belt Project Officer.