habitat creation | hedgerow management

Hedge trimming

Trimming is done by machinery; flail, reciprocating blade or shape saw to achieve the following hedge profile shapes. A - shaped hedge are the best for wildlife, shelter and stock proofing.

Types of hedge profiles, achieved by trimming

Hedge coppicing

Coppicing is a technique to repair a hedge made "gappy" by mechanical cutting. It may look harsh when the coppicing has been done, but after a few seasons the result is many vigorous sprouting stems from the base of the coppice stool. Time between coppicing will depend on the species present and their growth rate, however this will produce good upright growth for laying in a few years time. Carry this out from November to March.

Not all hedges should be coppiced at one time, a long term sequence must be planned. Some of the stems should be left tall providing standard trees along the hedge line.

Hedge pollarding

Pollarding is a less common method of hedgerow management, it is done when a hedge has grown too tall, but has uniform growth around the base of the hedge. The trees are cut at the top of the trunk where the trunk and branches join. This is not suitable for volunteers to do and may require contractors with chainsaw.

Informal hedges

These type of hedges a great if the hedge is not near a road or path, as trees can be left to grow at their own rate until it is time to lay them, thin out some vigorously growing plants or (traditionally) get timber from.

Remember

In hedgerows, retain dead wood (if it is safe to do so) as these provide nesting places for owls and woodpeckers, roosting sites for bats and a habitat for rare insects and lichens.

Do not remove creepers such as ivy from trees. Ivy does not damage trees, but provides roosting and hibernation sites for all kinds of wildlife and also a later nectar source for insects.