HEDGEROWS ACTION PLAN

 

 

Compiled by the Northamptonshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

 

The Farmland Sub Group of the Northamptonshire Biodiversity Partnership has developed this Action Plan. The Group consists of representatives from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and the National Farmers Union.

 

Lead Agencies:              Private Sector                 National Farmers Union

Voluntary Sector             Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

 

 

1       INTRODUCTION

 

Hedgerows are perhaps the definitive landscape features of lowland Britain. Ancient Saxon hedges form parish, district and county boundaries that are still recognised today. The great age of these hedges makes them irreplaceable habitats and important remnants of past farming landscapes. Hedges from the Enclosure period, form the regular patchwork of fields that still dominates the landscape we know today. These younger hedges are still valuable habitats in themselves and form important linkages between remnant areas of semi-natural habitats such as ponds and woods.

 

 

2       CURRENT STATUS

 

Habitats included in this plan:

Ancient Hedgerows

Enclosure Hedgerows

Hedgerow Trees

 

Associated Plans:

Lowland Wood Pasture and Parkland

Field Margins and Beetle Banks

Common Dormouse

Plot’s Elm

 

2.1    Definitions

 

2.1.1  Ancient Hedgerows

Ancient hedgerows often form parish boundaries, follow streams or ancient roads and by-ways and can contain a wider variety of woody shrub species than is commonly found in more recent hedges. Shrubs such as Dogwood, Spindle and Buckthorn are often present among the more common Hawthorn. Many such hedges are called ‘assart hedges’ and were left when the original ‘wild wood’ was cut back for cultivation. As remnants of ancient woodland they often retain many plants characteristic of the woodland floor such as Dog’s Mercury, Bluebells and Yellow-Archangel.

 

2.1.2  Enclosure Hedgerows

The Enclosure Acts were concentrated in the 19th Century, but the enclosure of land with planted thorn hedges had been happening for centuries. Parishes such as Charwelton were enclosed as early as the 13th Century. Most enclosure hedges typically support a poorer diversity of plants and invertebrates than ancient hedges, but they are still a significant wildlife habitat for a very wide range of flora and fauna.

 

2.1.3  Hedgerow Trees

These are trees that have developed within the hedge, either as a result of planting or allowed to naturally mature.  They give the hedge structure and form important landscape features.  In addition, they provide habitats for many species of wildlife.  In some cases, they are “Veteran Trees” (See Lowland Wood Pasture and Parkland Action Plan) and should be retained.

 

2.2    International/National Status

 

2.3    Local Status

It has been estimated that there is in the order of 13,000 km of hedgerows in Northamptonshire (1982 survey. Northamptonshire County Council).

 

 

3       CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES

 

3.1    National Priority Species

 

Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Plot’s Elm (Ulmus plotii), Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Linnet (Carduelis cannabina), Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) and Buttoned Snout Moth (Hypena rostralis).

 

3.2    Local Priority Species

 

Tree snail (Balea perversa) and Smooth jet slug (Milax gagates).

 

See Appendix 3 Farmland Priority Species for full lists

 

 

4       CURRENT FACTORS AFFECTING THE HABITAT

 

·         Direct removal for field enlargement and urban development. Hedge removal during the seventies and eighties saw the loss of almost 50% of hedgerows across the UK. Legislation protecting hedges means that this is now largely a historic concern.

·         Over management, particularly hard annual trimming. At best this maintains the hedge, but radically reduces its contribution to biodiversity by removing berries and destroying over-wintering invertebrates. At worst it can lead to thorn species dying back and the hedge becoming gappy and dominated by Elder.

·         Early cutting. It has become increasingly common to trim hedges immediately after harvest. The increase in the area of autumn sown crops results in a very considerable length of Northamptonshire’s hedges being cut within a very short period.

·         Uniformity of cutting style and hedge size. Hedges are a remnant of past farming practices (stock enclosure) and as such remain as a cost to the farmer today, but without much value apart from conservation. This means that the vast majority of hedges are mechanically maintained and kept short so as to minimise passes of the flail and consequently costs. Hedges less that 2 metres high lead to heavy predation of nests.

·         Lack of management over an extensive period allowing the hedge to become very tall and gappy. Such hedges can be difficult to restore and were often removed during field enlargement work in the past.

·         Perceived need for ‘tidiness’ in the countryside. Many people (both farmers and non-farmers) have become used to a very manicured countryside. Hedges not cut every year and allowed to bear flowers and fruit are seen by some as indicative of ‘poor land management’. There can be similar concerns over perceived ‘dilapidations’ on tenanted land.

·         Loss of hedgerow trees (Dutch Elm, Ash die back, etc.) and lack of an extensive number of ‘new generation’ trees.

·         The increasing complexity and need for accuracy with area support mechanisms. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs allow a hedge and margin to be no more than 2 metres from its centre to the crop, before areas must be deducted. Concerns over accuracy may result in farmers maintaining even narrower hedgerows.

 

 

5       CURRENT ACTION

 

·         Hedgerow protection legislation. The 1995 Environment Act introduced enabling powers to protect ‘important’ hedgerows in the UK and came into force on 1st June 1997. The legislation is already being reviewed with a view to extending what can be determined as ‘important’.

·         Under the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1995 it is illegal to spray pesticides into hedge bases, unless there is a specific label recommendation or a specific off-label approval.

·         Countryside Stewardship, funded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is now the major grant scheme operating in the county. Funding for extensive hedge restoration schemes is potentially available. At 31st March 1999 nearly 190kms had been restored through the scheme in Northamptonshire.

·         Local Authority grants for smaller scale planting and restoration work is currently still available.

·         Survey work on pre-enclosure hedges by Northamptonshire Heritage.

·         The Tree Warden scheme and CPRE survey work aim to involve local people in conserving local features.

·         Farm conservation competitions.

·         Advice for farmers from Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, GCT & RSPB.

 

 

6. HEDGEROWS OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

 

 

OBJECTIVE

ACTION

LEAD AGENCY

PARTNERS

TARGETS

6.1

Policy and Legislation

 

Objective One:

Ensure that BAP species and their habitats are given an appropriate level of protection in local plans

Include habitat and species protection policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance

Local Authorities

 

By 2003

 

Objective Two:

Increase funding for agri-environment schemes that benefit hedgerows

Lobby central government and the EU

National Farmers Union

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Country Landowners Association

 

Increased funding by 2004

 

Objective Three:

Ensure that appropriate hedgerows are protected through the Hedgerow Regulations

Implement Hedgerows Regulations.

Local Authorities

Wildlife Trust

Throughout Action Plan Period

 

Objective Four:

Maximise the opportunities offered by Local Plan policies for protection, enhancement and management of hedgerows not covered by Hedgerow Regulations

 

Develop policies for hedgerow protection and management

Local Authorities

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

Ensure that hedgerow protection policies are included in local plans or as supplementary guidance by 2003

6.2

Site Safeguard and Management

 

Objective Five:

To increase the length of hedgerow under conservation management

Promote the benefits of Countryside Stewardship to the county’s landowners and land managers.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Local Authorities, Land Agents

Increase length under conservation management by 50,000 metres/year

6.3

Advisory

 

Objective Six:

Ensure that a comprehensive advisory service is available to land managers

Increase the availability of low cost, high quality advisory services to farmers and landowners on hedgerow management.

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group 

Local Authorities, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

 

Appoint a second Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group advisor by 2003 

 

 

 

Ensure hedgerow management guidance is included in Landscape Guidelines Handbook

County Council

All Local Authorities, Forestry Commission

Publish comprehensive advise notes by 2002

6.4

Research and Monitoring

 

 

 

 

 

Objective Seven:

Determine the extent of the hedgerow resource in Northamptonshire

 Undertake a desktop and field survey to determine the extent and condition of the county’s hedgerows

Wildlife Trust

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Local Authorities, Tree Wardens

Produce a baseline survey by 2003

 

Objective Eight:

Develop the Tree Warden Scheme to encourage local action promoting the reinstatement, restoration, conservation and management of local hedgerows

 

Engage Tree Wardens in hedgerow survey and monitoring 

County Council

Other Local Authorities, Tree Council

Initiate Hedgerow Survey in 2004

 

 

Develop targeted training for Tree Wardens to enable the local delivery of surveys, monitoring and advice

County Council

Other Local Authorities, Tree Council

Deliver an annual training and development programme throughout the Action Plan Period

 

6.5

Communications and Publicity

 

 

 

 

 

Objective Nine:

Promote the value of hedges, their biodiversity and historic value

Produce and publicise information on the value of the county’s hedgerows to raise public interest and awareness. Attend agricultural shows and other local events

Local Authorities

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Wildlife Trust

Throughout Action Plan Period

 

Objective Ten:

Publicise the progress made in delivering this Action Plan in a BAP Annual Report

 

 

BAP Partners

Annual

 

 

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