Wild Oxfordshire have teamed up with CPRE to deliver Hedgerow Heroes projects within Oxfordshire. Hedgerow Heroes is a three-year national campaign funded by CPRE (Campaign to Protect of Rural England) which aims to expand the hedgerow network across the country, rejuvenate unhealthy hedgerows, and empower communities to take action for nature on their patch.
Hedgerows are an archetypal feature in the British landscape, decorating the patchwork of small fields in the countryside. Historically, the purpose of these hedgerows was for stock proof fencing yet today we recognise a plethora of benefits that hedgerows provide.
Hedgerows are extremely vital for biodiversity. They have become essential wildlife corridors and provide food, shelter, and nesting locations for a wide variety of animals. Hedgerows benefit the farming community too. They provide shade for livestock grazing in pasture, protect crops from high winds, increase pollination and modulate crop pests. Hedgerows are becoming ever more important in the face of climate change as they suck carbon from the atmosphere, regulate water during flood and drought events and provide a renewable source of fuel.
Over recent decades much of our hedgerows have been improperly managed or removed from the countryside completely. Consequently, there is a need to replace lost hedgerow and improve their condition so we can reap the benefits along with the birds, bugs, and bees!
Hedgerow Heroes is a three-year national campaign funded by CPRE (Campaign to Protect of Rural England) which aims to expand the hedgerow network across the country, rejuvenate unhealthy hedgerows, and empower communities to take action for nature on their patch. For the third year of the campaign, Wild Oxfordshire teamed up with CPRE Oxfordshire to deliver Oxfordshire’s Hedgerow Heroes.
This year (2023/24) we had 13 communities on board including:
Wild Oxfordshire’s Hedgerow Officer worked closely with a small group of volunteers (project leads) within each location to develop and carry out bespoke hedgerow projects. Throughout the autumn and winter months nearly 400 people collectively rejuvenated 500m of hedgerow and planted over 2.5km of new hedgerow which built on the success of the first phase of Oxfordshire’s Hedgerow Heroes.
This project is funded by CPRE.
Back in 2021/22 Wild Oxfordshire was involved in the very first year of HH. Volunteers in Watlington, Eynsham and Kidlington planted 1.7 km of new hedgerow, restored 480m of hedgerow and captivated 550 people in the process (CPRE Phase 1 Hedgerow Heroes report). You can read more about these projects in our blog or simply take a glimpse by watching the short film below, created by local film maker Nicola Schafer.
One aim of Hedgerow Heroes is to increase local knowledge on hedgerows and their management. Wild Oxfordshire partnered with Wychwood Forest Trust (Wychwood Forest Trust | Nature Conservation | West Oxfordshire) to deliver four hedgelaying training workshops. Our aspiration is to equip members of the public with the necessary skills and knowledge so they can properly manage hedgerows within their own community.
We are hoping to run another round of Hedgerow Heroes in Oxfordshire for the 2024/25 planting season. If you and your local community would be interested participating, please contact: Jessica Bouwer. See our guidance for ways you can help hedgerow habitat in your neighbourhood.
Read Wild Oxfordshire Hedgerow Heroes blog
Watch West Meadow Hedgerow film by Nicola Schafer. West Meadow is a key site in the Oxfordshire Hedgerow Heroes project
Watch How to plant a hedge with Nigel Adams filmed in Watlington by Nicola Schafer
Download How to care for a new hedgerow pdf
More hedgerow related guidance here
