This document provides guidance on planting, maintaining, and rejuvenating hedgerows. It discusses choosing native plant species, laying out double staggered rows of plants, cultivating soil and protecting new roots. Pruning and using plastic strips for weed control is recommended. Fencing, annual trimming, and protecting from rabbits and hares is advised for ongoing management. The document outlines when and how to rejuvenate different hedge types through laying, coppicing or leaving relict hedgerows undisturbed. GLAS specifications for timing and replacing plants after rejuvenation are also covered.
This document provides guidance on planting, maintaining, and rejuvenating hedgerows. It discusses choosing native plant species, laying out double staggered rows of plants, cultivating soil and protecting new roots. Pruning and using plastic strips for weed control is recommended. Fencing, annual trimming, and protecting from rabbits and hares is advised for ongoing management. The document outlines when and how to rejuvenate different hedge types through laying, coppicing or leaving relict hedgerows undisturbed. GLAS specifications for timing and replacing plants after rejuvenation are also covered.
This document provides guidance on planting, maintaining, and rejuvenating hedgerows. It discusses choosing native plant species, laying out double staggered rows of plants, cultivating soil and protecting new roots. Pruning and using plastic strips for weed control is recommended. Fencing, annual trimming, and protecting from rabbits and hares is advised for ongoing management. The document outlines when and how to rejuvenate different hedge types through laying, coppicing or leaving relict hedgerows undisturbed. GLAS specifications for timing and replacing plants after rejuvenation are also covered.
This document provides guidance on planting, maintaining, and rejuvenating hedgerows. It discusses choosing native plant species, laying out double staggered rows of plants, cultivating soil and protecting new roots. Pruning and using plastic strips for weed control is recommended. Fencing, annual trimming, and protecting from rabbits and hares is advised for ongoing management. The document outlines when and how to rejuvenate different hedge types through laying, coppicing or leaving relict hedgerows undisturbed. GLAS specifications for timing and replacing plants after rejuvenation are also covered.
Planting ¾ Cultivation is essential for optimum growth ¾ Digging in well-rotted FYM encourages growth
¾ Protect roots from
drying out during planting
¾ Plant to same depth as previously planted ¾ Firm in
19 Hedgerows: Planting 2 GLAS Specification
¾ Double staggered row
¾ 6 plants per metre
330 mm between rows
330 mm between plants
e.g. 1200 plants in 200 metres
GLAS Native Hedgerow Species
Holly
Blackthorn Whitethorn
¾ Purchase plants from registered suppliers.
20 Hedgerows: Planting 3 Pruning and Plastic ¾ Prune whitethorn to 75mm
Pruning produces multiple shoots
¾ Push 450mm wide strip of used silage pit plastic over
pruned shoots
Good weed control allows dense growth at ground level
¾ Leave occasional whitethorn unpruned - to grow up as individual whitethorn tree to flower and fruit. Put on a tree guard Future whitethorn tree
¾ Cut hole or slit plastic around holly and
future trees ¾ Press sides of plastic into ground with spade to hold plastic
21 Hedgerows: Planting 4 Fencing and ongoing management ¾ Fence from livestock until hedge becomes stockproof ¾ Fence • Stockproof • Fit for purpose
Sheep fencing if required
¾ Protect against hares and rabbits
Low electric fencing
¾ Cut annually for first few years - close above previous cuts
22 Hedgerows: Rejuvenation 5 Choose appropriate management for each hedgerow type Escaped: suitable for rejuvenation ¾ Rejuvenate by laying or coppicing or ¾ Allow grow into relict hedgerows No longer stockproof
Escaped More than one whitethorn stem / m
Dense base: No need to rejuvenate - if stockproof without wire
¾Trim from a wide base with sloping sides ¾Leave occasional new whitethorn sapling - to mature as a tree
No wire Triangular shape Dense Base New thorn trees retained
Relict hedgerows: unsuitable for rejuvenation
¾ Leave alone - high wildlife value
¾ Rejuvenation may be too stressful for hedge ¾ Fence off stock from both sides to prevent deterioration by stock tramping through gaps.
Relict hedgerows
23 Hedgerows: Rejuvenation 6 Laying
¾ Make a downward angled cut near to ground level
¾ Use a billhook, axe or chainsaw
three-quarters through the stem.
¾ Retain occasional individual
thorn trees
¾ Secure laid hedgerow against wind and livestock
¾ Must NOT use digger to lay hedgerows
24 Hedgerows: Rejuvenation 7 Coppicing
¾ Cut stems to below 15cm close to
ground level ¾ Use a chainsaw or circular saw. ¾ Make a gentle sloping cut to allow water to run off ¾ Retain occasional individual thorn trees ¾ Remove unwanted trees by brushing on glyphosate on cut stumps ¾ Fill in gaps with new plants - 4 per metre ¾ Consider livestock reach and future access for machine trimming, when positioning the fence ¾ Control competing vegetation as necessary ¾ For the first few years after coppicing, cut back to 75mm above previous level of cut, gradually shaping into a triangular shape.
New growth comes from below the cut at ground level
25 Hedgerows: Rejuvenation 8 GLAS Specifications ¾ Coppicing and laying can only take place between 1 September and the 28 February ¾ Minimum of 10 m in a single continuous length ¾ Replace plants that die during the next dormant season ¾ Fence off newly laid or coppiced hedges in a grass or tillage field and protect from livestock ¾ Trim plants over the course of the contract to ensure a dense hedgerow develops ¾ Control grass and other competing vegetation
Why?
Remember the purpose of rejuvenation
¾ To return escaped hedgerows to stockproof hedgerows
