February - villagevoices.org.uk

Suffolk Hedgerows SurveyFollowing concern over the future ofhedgerows and their perceived decline,the Suffolk Hedgerows Survey wasinitiated several years ago in order torecord the position and make up of allexisting hedgerows in Suffolk, Parishby Parish.the Boyton hedgerows saying that ‘Inregard to the species richness of thehedgerows in Boyton, it has to be saidthere is a remarkable difference fromthe norm, where the low count is veryhigh and the species rich is very low asillustrated below .’There are 445 Parishes in Suffolk andeach Parish Council was requestedto survey all hedgerows in its Parish.Signs were put up around the villageand a group of volunteers fromHollesley and Boyton came forward.After suitable training provided atFoxborrow farm, they undertook thesurvey, using maps made available bySuffolk Hedgerow Survey.Having obtained thelandowners permission, athirty metre stretch ofeach hedgerow wasselected within whichthe species growingin the hedge wereidentified. In additionthe condition of thehedgerow was noted.In Boyton four volunteersundertook to carry out the surveyover several months. Uponcompletion the information wascollated and analysed by Guy Ackers,Chairman of the Hedgerow Survey.In his report he commented on thelack of diversity of species present inGrades Number %age Norm