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ClimateQuiet 8d · day 9

English farmers surge to revive hedge laying, ancient craft gaining traction

Grant applications for hedgerow restoration hit record levels as farmers recognize carbon capture and ecological benefits of techniques unused for generations.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 8d ago7 pieces61 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • 2,500 English farmers have applied for grants to restore 1,300km of hedgerows, making hedge laying one of the four most popular environmental grant categories from a £225m government fund.
  • Mature hedgerows capture more carbon per hectare than forests and support thousands of species, addressing both climate and biodiversity goals after decades of decline following post-WWII abandonment of the practice.
  • Government grants appear to be the critical enabler; National Hedgelaying Society reports members experiencing a surge in work that would not be happening without this funding support.

“We taught ourselves how to do the laying, which was a bit of trial and error. It is only recently that we have noticed how much other farmers are talking about hedge laying online, in community groups, it really seems to be taking off.”

Robert Rose, Farmer, Rosewood Farm, Yorkshire · The Guardian ↗

Megan Gimber Key habitats officer, People's Trust for Endangered SpeciesStephen Budding Chair, National Hedgelaying SocietyRobert Rose Farmer, Rosewood Farm, Yorkshire

English farmers surge to revive hedge laying, ancient craft gaining traction
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in two hours at Sep 15, 2 AM; 7 pieces over 9 days (4 articles · 3 posts) Sep 15, 2 AM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Newswires 3, Mastodon 1Sep 15, 4 AM — quietSep 15, 6 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 2Sep 15, 8 AM — quietSep 15, 10 AM — quietSep 15, 12 PM — quietSep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 4 PM — quietSep 15, 6 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — quietSep 15, 10 PM — quietSep 16, 12 AM — quietSep 16, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 16, 4 AM — quietSep 16, 6 AM — quietSep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 12 PM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quiet 1–3
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  1. 2

    Farmers report online momentum building around hedge-laying adoption

    Robert Rose, a Yorkshire farmer awaiting grant approval for hedge restoration at his 220-acre farm, notes that hedge laying discussion has accelerated recently in online farming communities and local groups.

    “It is only recently that we have noticed how much other farmers are talking about hedge laying online, in community groups, it really seems to be taking off.”
    — Robert Rose
    1. 3 outlets Conservation ‘gateway drug’: farmers embrace ancient craft of hedge laying

      first by Mastodon, 9d ago · also Guardian Environment, Guardian

  2. 3

    Experts cite carbon and biodiversity benefits driving hedge-laying revival

    Conservation leaders describe hedge laying as a climate solution and biodiversity tool. Mature hedgerows capture more carbon per hectare than forests, support thousands of species, reduce soil erosion, and help manage flood risk by absorbing and storing rainwater.

    “The greatest biodiversity gain is from hedge laying older hedges. Our members are seeing quite a surge in work, but I don't think this would be happening without the government grants available.”
    — Stephen Budding
  3. 1

    Guardian reports surge in hedge-laying grant applications across England

    Grant applications for hedge laying restoration have become one of the four most popular categories in a £225m government funding scheme. If approved, 2,500 farmers will lay 1,300km of mature hedgerows—enough to stretch from Land's End to Hadrian's Wall and back.

    “Hedge laying really stopped after the war, so it has been over a generation since it was a normal part of farm management and we have seen a huge decline in hedgerows as a result.”
    — Megan Gimber