Monmouth Tree Services: Hedgerows

Ancient Hedgerows

Around 2000-1000BC Britons were generally hunters and fisherman and knew little about farming which was beginning to spread from Europe. The first farmers began to clear ancient woodlands and forests to create pasture for livestock and formed boundaries to stop livestock escaping. These boundaries usually consisted of thorn bushes which were impenetrable to livestock and predators. The thorn was laid on the ground and soon rooted itself creating the first hedges. These Bronze Age hedges were usually round or sub-rectangular surrounded by a stone wall, some of these can be seen in Cornwall and Highland areas of Britain.

Because the boundaries were formed on ancient woodland sites many of the woodland plants survived and thrived within the hedge away from foraging animals, plants such as Primrose, Bluebell, Dogs Mercury, Wood Anemone and Herb Paris can still be found today in the ancient hedgerows around Monmouth. Over time, Many other species of tree seeded itself within the hedgerows via bird and animal droppings, Birch, Alder, Ash Field Maple, Willow and Gean soon established itself followed by Yew and Oak.

Hedge

Spindle in an ancient hedge

The hedgerows soon became important habitats for wildlife which found safety from predators within the thorny defenses and also a good source of food and shelter. Many animals and mammals use hedgerows for safe travelling between nesting and feeding sites, Hedgehogs, as the name suggests, are especially dependant on hedgerows to allow them to feed, mate and hibernate.

Many of Monmouth’s hedgerows are ancient and can generally be dated by counting the amount of species present over a 30m distance, each species of tree = 100 years. The species itself can also be an indicator of age. For example, Spindle needs a thick hedge in which to grow and is usually only found in hedges which are around 600 years old.

In the Middle Ages land was divided into strips which were 22 yards wide and 122 yards long (furlong) these “fields” were bordered by hedges which were usually planted with Thorn and were marked at the end of the furlong by an Oak tree, this pattern can still be seen in some of our field hedges.

Between 1400 -1600AD the enclosures acts were passed and fields during this period tended to be big and square with straight hedges, nearly half of our field hedges were planted in the 17th Century. Our hedgerows are now protected by law within The Hedgerows Regulations 1997.

Hedge Ancient hedges at Tregate

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Hedgerows