Durham Hedgerow Survey 2006

The County Council inconjunction with the Durham Biodiversity Partnership have recently undertaken a survey of hedgerows in the Durham area (which includes Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Darlington and County Durham). Funding was successfully secured from Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Durham County Council to carry out the survey.

The survey followed the methodology in Defra’s Hedgerow Survey Handbook and entailed surveying a selection of hedgerows within a randomised sample of kilometre grid squares.

Aim

The aim of the survey was to gather information on the extent, composition, structure, condition, variation and estimate the overall resource of Durham’s Hedgerows. It was also designed to provide some comparison with previous surveys and act a baseline against which progress can be measured in the future.

Main Findings

• An estimated 21% of the hedgerow resource has been lost since 1979 through the intensification of agriculture, mineral extraction and an increase in roads, housing and other developments.
• Only 17% of the hedges surveyed were in ‘favourable condition’ under UK BAP (UK Biodiversity Action Plan) condition assessment. Gappiness and basal canopy height were the main factors causing hedges to fail.
• Neglect is the biggest threat to Durham’s hedgerows. Sixty-two percent of hedges showed no signs of active management.
• Thirty-five percent of hedgerows surveyed were classed as species rich (i.e. contained four or more species per 30m section). The most frequently occurring shrub species were hawthorn, ash, blackthorn and elder.
• To maintain the current isolated tree population, 580 trees per year need to be recruited into the hedgerows.

Issues Highlighted & Recommended Actions

Hedgerow Restoration

There is a gap in current funding for hedgerow restoration works.

Priorities for action include:

• Advising the Government on the need for increased financial support for hedgerow management and particularly restoration.
• Continuing to support the Durham Hedgerow Partnership's Field Boundary Restoration Grant Scheme.

Neglect

A high proportion of Durham’s hedges are in poor condition arising from neglect.

Priorities for action include:

• Securing a substantial increase in funding for hedgerow restoration works.
• Continuing to provide advice and training on hedgerow restoration through the Durham Hedgerow Partnership.
• Targeting existing funding at hedgerow restoration to ensure the long term viability and rejuvenation of hedges, through a combination of laying and coppicing (combined with inter-planting where appropriate) rather than the planting of new hedges where resources are limited.
• Targeting funding more closely; priorities should include works which maintain hedges of particular wildlife, landscape, historical or wildlife value and those which contribute most to habitat connectivity at a landscape-scale.
• Targeting funding of new planting at the restoration of relict or former hedgerow boundaries (rather than the creation of entirely new hedges) and/or at those which contribute most to habitat connectivity.

Trimming

A number of hedgerows are in poor condition arising from over-zealous mechanical trimming.

Priorities for action include:

• Promoting the use of sympathetic trimming techniques on intensively managed hedges (i.e. cutting less frequently, on rotation and allowing the hedge to grow wider/higher).
• Continuing to provide advice and training through the Durham Hedgerow Partnership.
• Promoting the uptake of the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship.
• Supporting the adoption of environmental modules in hedgerow management qualifications such as National Proficiency Test Council (NPTC) Certificates of Competence.
• Promoting the use of suitably qualified personnel in managing hedges.

Hedgerow Trees

There is a lack of recruitment of young hedgerow trees to replace a declining, and at times poorly-managed, mature stock.

Priorities for action include:

• Promoting the planting of native hedgerow trees that are of local origin.
• Encouraging the retention of native hedgerow trees by the tagging of saplings.
• Providing advice on the management of mature and veteran hedgerow trees.

Species Composition

There are some idiosyncrasies in the species composition of newly planted hedges.

Priorities for action include:

• Increasing the awareness and education about the risks of accidental introduction of non-native species, varieties and genotypes.
• Promoting the use of native plant material of local provenance (i.e. guaranteed as cultivated from British as opposed to continental wild stock) or the appropriate Forestry Commission Seed Zone.
• Promoting the adoption of the Durham Hedgerow Partnership's recommended hedgerow species mix for different Countryside Character Areas.

Sample Size

The findings of the report are limited in their accuracy by the relatively small sample size.

Priorities for action include:

• Undertaking further surveys to increase the number of hedges surveyed.
• Undertaking repeat surveys using a compatible methodology at regular intervals to monitor changes in the extent and condition of the hedgerow resource.

Conclusion

This survey has highlighted that large proportions of Durham’s hedgerows are in poor condition.

To ensure their long term viability, hedges need to be rejuvenated by promoting vigorous re-growth from the base through a combination of laying, coppicing, and inter-planting where appropriate. Through advice, training and the promotion of sympathetic management and restoration regimes, there is the potential for hedges to be brought back into favourable condition.

However, hedgerow management is no longer a priority, even to livestock farmers as it is not only labour intensive but an unwanted financial burden. Without the financial assistance through agri-environmental schemes and grants, these much needed traditional practices of laying, coppicing and inter-planting are unlikely to be carried out.

Therefore the problems of the deteriorating quality of the hedgerow resource within Durham will continue if there is not increased financial support for hedgerow management and particularly restoration. This highlights how important the work of the Durham Hedgerow Partnership is in promoting the protection, restoration and management of Durham’s hedgerows and especially the financial incentives given in the form of the field boundary restoration grant.

Report

You can view the full Durham Hedgerow Survey 2006 Report by downloading the following PDF file. Please note that the attatched PDF file is large and may take some time to download.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.

Durham Hedgerow Survey 2006 Report.pdf (59 pages, 1820kb)

Find Out More

If you would like to find out further information about the survey or would like to obtain a paper copy of the report, please contact:

Landscape Section
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ

Tel: 0191 3834076

Email: Landscape

Hedges