Hedge-laying

From October to March our volunteers get stuck in laying hedges across our nature reserves. Why? Joe tells us more about the importance and management of these wildlife superhighways.
If you'd like to join our volunteers and help with hedge-laying and other practical conservation tasks, take a look at our opportunities www.worcswildl...

[@stephenrice4554]

That's the way to do it , the biggest mistake was removing them when the Dutch elm disease ( beetle ) hit . Nice to see hedges being replaced and even better layed / pleached . Crack on 👍🇬🇧

[@darrenevans6582]

Brilliant, they are so vital to our wildlife well done everyone 🙂👍

[@WorcsWildlifeTrust]

Thank you Darren 😊👍

[@tybaltmoon2082]

Can these hedges keep out deer and prevent browsing on vulnerable tree shoots?

[@WorcsWildlifeTrust]

Laid hedges are much denser than non-laid ones and so can act as a livestock and deer barrier; ensuring there are no gaps will help to make sure that this stays true. Roe and fallow deer are able to jump over smaller hedges but denser hedges should help to keep out muntjac (these are the ones more likely to wiggle through). Of course, as the hedge regrows, it is also vulnerable to browsing but the act of laying spurs on quick growth so it shouldn’t be held back for too long. The spiky stakes may deter browsing from larger deer and most of the regrowth is above the browsing height of muntjac. If you're looking to protect just a few trees, circular hedges are good at keeping deer out but we don't know if there is/what the optimum curve is for discouraging deer to jump in/out.