HEDGES
AND FIELD MARGINS
In the 14 years since the Reserves were started, volunteers have planted hedges, thickets, copses and standard trees. The new hedges require management, as do some of the old sparse hedgerows on the boundaries. Thin hedges, for example, are of little use to nesting birds. Hedge work must be done in the winter months, with a time limit of end-February, as nesting birds can be active after this time. It must be done in rotation so that wildlife always has areas of undisturbed habitat.
In determining our policies for the Reserves, we must abide by the terms of the Countryside Stewardship Agreement which contains strict criteria laid down by DEFRA for the benefit of wildlife, in return for which we receive a financial contribution from them towards our management costs. Some of the requirements relate to hedges, and others to field margins, i.e. the strips of land immediately adjacent to the hedges.
Where hedges are thin and gappy at the base, we employ the techniques of hedge-laying and coppicing. Both treatments may appear drastic, but they produce strong new growth at the base of a hedge, which creates a better wildlife corridor. We have used the South of England method of hedge laying with fairly smooth woven sides, hazel stakes and binding at the top. This has been very successful on all our hedges, except in part of one hedge where bracken is invading.
Coppicing involves cutting a hedge near to ground level. Hazel responds particularly well to coppicing, but less well to laying.
On either side of the bridge in Jenners Field there are several lengths of hazel which have been coppiced in successive years. The hazel stems that were cut down late last year have yet to sprout again.
In the 14 years since the Reserves were started, volunteers have planted hedges, thickets, copses and standard trees. The new hedges require management, as do some of the old sparse hedgerows on the boundaries. Thin hedges, for example, are of little use to nesting birds. Hedge work must be done in the winter months, with a time limit of end-February, as nesting birds can be active after this time. It must be done in rotation so that wildlife always has areas of undisturbed habitat.
In determining our policies for the Reserves, we must abide by the terms of the Countryside Stewardship Agreement which contains strict criteria laid down by DEFRA for the benefit of wildlife, in return for which we receive a financial contribution from them towards our management costs. Some of the requirements relate to hedges, and others to field margins, i.e. the strips of land immediately adjacent to the hedges.
Where hedges are thin and gappy at the base, we employ the techniques of hedge-laying and coppicing. Both treatments may appear drastic, but they produce strong new growth at the base of a hedge, which creates a better wildlife corridor. We have used the South of England method of hedge laying with fairly smooth woven sides, hazel stakes and binding at the top. This has been very successful on all our hedges, except in part of one hedge where bracken is invading.
Coppicing involves cutting a hedge near to ground level. Hazel responds particularly well to coppicing, but less well to laying.
On either side of the bridge in Jenners Field there are several lengths of hazel which have been coppiced in successive years. The hazel stems that were cut down late last year have yet to sprout again.
The Countryside Stewardship Agreement, mentioned earlier, includes a requirement about the height at which the hedges should be maintained. The long hedge along the north side of the Reserves, running from the entrance near the Scout Hut towards Coldharbour, has now become overgrown and we aim to get it cut next winter. A number of suitable stems will, however, be left to grow into trees, as has already been done with the hedge on the opposite side of the same field. Hedgerow trees are a distinctive and attractive feature of our countryside and there is concern that, as old trees die off, too few new ones are being grown on to take their places.
Like the hedges, the field margins have a distinct value for wildlife. Typically they consist of uncut grass, other herbs, woody plants such as brambles, and suckers or seedlings from the hedge itself. These margins need to be periodically rejuvenated by cutting, in order to produce young growth and to avoid damage to the hedges themselves. .
As with hedges, we aim – and are indeed required – to manage the margins in such a way that substantial areas are retained undisturbed for the benefit of wildlife. Thus, users of the Reserves may have noticed that, on the far side of Beacon Field adjoining Paris Farm, about one third of the margin was cut in Autumn 2007 and another third last year, leaving the remainder for action in the coming Autumn.
April/May 2009