Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans

9. Habitat Action Plans
9.1 Hedgerows
9.1.1 Description
A hedgerow is defined as any boundary line of trees or shrubs over 20m long and less
than 5m wide at the base, provided that at one time the trees or shrubs were more or
less continuous. It includes an earth bank or wall only where such a feature occurs in
association with a line of trees or shrubs. This includes ‘classic’ shrubby hedgerows,
lines of trees, shrubby hedgerows with trees and very gappy hedgerows (where each
shrubby section may be less than 20m long, but the gaps are less than 20m).
Priority hedgerows should be those comprising 80% or more cover of any native
tree/shrub species. This does not include archaeophytes and sycamore. For the
purposes of the UK BAP ‘native’ will not be defined further; it will be left up to the
Countries to provide guidance on this as they consider appropriate.
Hedges are not just important for biodiversity, but are also recognisable landscape
features, act as boundaries in farming and are important for cultural, historical and
archaeological reasons.
They are a primary habitat for at least 47 extant species of conservation concern in
the UK, including 13 globally threatened or rapidly declining ones. They are especially
important for butterflies and moths, farmland birds, bats and dormice. Over 600 plant
species, 1500 insects, 65 birds and 20 mammals have been recorded at some time
living or feeding in hedgerows.
Hedgerows also act as wildlife corridors for many species, including bats, reptiles
and amphibians, allowing dispersal and movement between other habitats.
9.1.2 Optimum survey time
According to Defra’s ‘Hedgerow Survey Handbook’ (published March 2007), “the field
survey period extends approximately from April to October, depending on the part of
the country. June and July are ideal months, particularly where surveys include
assessments of the ground flora. Local hedgerow management practices are also
important.”
9.1.3 Current status
Hedgerows are a UK BAP Priority Habitat. The current total length of hedgerow in the
UK is estimated at 280,000 miles. Hedgerows continue to decline through lack of
survey work or unsympathetic management of the adjacent land and of the
hedgerows themselves.
9.1.4 Legislation
Certain hedgerows are protected under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, which were
made under the Environment Act 1995 in England and Wales. These Regulations
prevent the removal of most countryside hedgerows without first submitting a
hedgerow removal notice to the Local Planning Authority. In Scotland and Northern
Ireland there is no specific legislation for the protection of hedgerows, as there are
Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network (December 2007)
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