Hedging and hedges – for wildlife

If you want your hedge to be a wildlife haven, you need to select a mixture of native hedging species as they offer homes and food to a very wide range of invertebrates which are in turn eaten by different mammal and bird species as the food chain is established.

Here are some examples of suitable trees and shrubs and their wildlife value:

Hawthorn, blackthorn, guelder rose and field maple all provide food, nesting sites and cover for birds, nesting areas and butterfly homes are provided by yew, beech and native privet, while holly, blackthorn spindle and other prickly plants have the added advantage of being a burglar deterrent. Hedgehogs, weasels, voles and other small mammals may shelter in the bottom of a hedgerow but wood and harvest mice are good climbers and may be found further up in the branches. Squirrels love hedgerows too.

To create a native hedge, plant your chosen species in the autumn when the soil is warm after the summer and damp from autumn rain. Either plant a double row of trees to create width, (because much wildlife will use the area between the two rows as a safe haven) or if there isn’t room, zig-zag the trees slightly so the roots have more space.

Once your hedge is established, it’s best to postpone pruning until the autumn, when there is no chance of disturbing nesting birds. Cut back quite hard in the first couple of years so the hedge thickens up at the base. You can also plant native violets, wood anemones and celandine at the base of the hedge to attract nectar-loving insects.

Hedge gardening wildlife photograph by clagnut, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

© blueworldgardener.co.uk