Hedgerows are important

Hedgerows are vital wildlife habitats and iconic features in our countryside. The ‘woodland edge’ habitat they mimic is beneficial to many of our native species, and provides food, shelter, and connectivity. They also play a major role in nature-friendly farming, help protect soils, store carbon, and improve water quality and infiltration. A real winner for people and the environment!   

Hedge margins and road verges are also important for our wildlife, with many containing wildflowers not seen in intensively managed grasslands. Globally, insect and pollinator numbers are in serious decline, therefore it’s important we protect the habitats they need to survive. Thriving hedge margins are also home to beneficial insectivores that help supress pests in agricultural fields, benefiting the farmer.  

We wanted to do our bit to protect these important natural corridors, so we created the Hedges & Edges project! This project aims to create, restore, and monitor hedges and edges, as well as promote better management practices. This feeds into Priority 11 of the Cumbrian Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) to create and restore 1,250km of species-rich hedgerows by 2035 to support nature recovery (see: Homepage | Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy).  

Our hedgerows work so far…

In our first year (2025) we focused on three target areas – The Howgill’s National Character Area, the River Petteril catchment and the Ullswater catchment. For our second year (2026) onwards, we are widening our target areas and focussing on five operational catchments- the Upper Lune and the Greta & Rawthey catchments (two catchments that cover the Howgill’s and surrounding areas), the Eamont catchment (includes Ullswater and Haweswater), the River Petteril catchment, and the Eden Lower catchment (includes Carlisle and part of the Solway Firth). We are also prioritizing work inside B-lines (https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/b-lines/) or on/near special roadside verges.  

Hedgerow Heroes 

Friends of the Lake District is also one of 13 CPRE county areas receiving funding through the Hedgerow Heroes fund - Hedgerow Heroes Phase Five: 13 local CPREs join the mission – CPRE . This Hedgerow Hero funding, with other grants and partner support, will help us to achieve our goals for hedgerow recovery.  

Hedgerow Heroes is done in phases; we joined in phase 5 (2025-2026) and we are hoping to take part in phase 6 (2026-2027) as well. For phase 5 we set ourselves the target of completing 4km of hedgerow work, which includes planting, laying, and rejuvenation, and we have well exceeded that figure. 

Photo: Jonny Gios.