Devon has more hedges than any other part of the UK. A single hedge can support well over 2,000 species. Hedges are vital for most farmland wildlife, either as their main habitat or an essential component of a suite of habitats – without them, many populations would crash. Hedges also act as a crucial wildlife corridor connecting different habitats such as woodlands. They also store carbon and help the fight against climate change.

Hedges are not allowed to be cut before 1 September unless a farm has written permission from the Rural Payments Agency

‍ LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE TRYING OUT RAISING THE FLAIL BY 10-15CM BY SENDING US A QUICK EMAIL OR PHOTO OF YOUR HEDGE!

‍See the Devon Hedge Group website for more information and guidance in managing hedges.

Hedges are important for a huge range of wildlife including plants, fungi and a great many animals such as insects, reptiles, birds and mammals.

See the Devon hedges pdf here on the important species that hedges provide a vital habitat for.

Most hedges in Devon are cut frequently, nearly always with a flail. This section of the Devon Hedge Group website suggests trimming practices that will help to keep hedges thick, bushy and stock-proof, and good for wildlife, while reducing costs to the farmer, here. 

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northern Devon Special Species that rely on hedges

Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius.  Vulnerable.

Dormice have been lost from about half their former range in England: Devon is now a national stronghold.  The decline continues - an analysis of data derived from the UK’s National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) strongly suggests that dormice have suffered a 72% population crash between 1993 and 2014, equivalent to a mean annual rate of decline of 5.8%.  They are small mammals of early tomid-successional woody growth, whether this occurs as scrub, in hedges or in woodlands.  The population fall is thought to be due to habitat loss, especially the loss of dense scrubby growth,and a reduction in habitat quality, for example more woodlands becoming high forest with a closed canopy and more hedges becoming gappy.  Landscape fragmentation is considered a further reason for decline since it leads to the loss of safe dispersal corridors. Changing climatic conditions adversely affecting hibernation, and increasing deer numbers removing undergrowth, may also be factors.  Across the country, there is no clear regional pattern to this decline.  The trend in Devon is unknown, but there is no reason to suspect that it bucks the national picture.

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Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae. Vulnerable.

Declining nationally, Devon is a major British stronghold for this elusive butterfly: it remains fairly well distributed across the county.  A species of hedges, scrub and woodland edge, the eggs are laid on the young growth of blackthorn, the foodplant of the caterpillars. The main reason for its decline is believed to be the tight annual flailing of hedgerows which destroys the eggs. Many hedges remain unfavourably managed for the butterfly in Devon,although agri-environment schemes like Countryside Stewardship have helped reduce the frequency of trimming. Reflecting its elusive nature as an adult, the species is under recorded and more effort is required to determine its status across Devon.

Do you know a farmer who is installing a new hedge this year!? Nominate them for the Devon Hedge Award!

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Recording of our Hedges Panel EVENT

Devon Hedge Group: Advice, information and workshops

Saving Devons Treescapes and FWAG SouthWest: Offering farm advisory visits

Devon Wildlife Trust: Many projects that can offer farm advisors

DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF HEDGE MANAGEMENT AND THE SPECIAL SPECIES HEDGES CAN SUPPORT, rOB wOLTON, hATHERLEIGH

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