Hedge planting 2025-26: that’s a wrap!

As the planting season comes to a close, it’s time to look back at what has been an incredibly successful few months for our Hedgerow Heroes project in Hertfordshire.

This winter we’ve worked with volunteers, schools, community groups and partner organisations to plant new hedgerows across several different sites in the county. These young hedges will grow into vital wildlife corridors in the years ahead, connecting habitats and supporting everything from birds and small mammals to insects and pollinators, alongside protecting the landscape from flooding and storing carbon.

Just as importantly, the project has helped bring people together. From families in northern London to local students and long-standing volunteers, many people have had the chance to get their hands in the soil and contribute directly to the future of Hertfordshire’s countryside.

What we have achieved

This season we set out with a target of planting 2,100 metres of hedgerow. Thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers, we exceeded that goal by a significant margin, planting 2,550 metres in total, which equates to about 12,000 plants! These range from common native hedgerow species like hawthorn to less common species like spindle, barberry, and alder buckthorn.

I was so impressed by the number of people who care enough about the environment to brave this winter’s testing weather. In all we had about 150 people join us, ranging from three-year-olds to retirees and everyone in between. This really is something for people to get involved in no matter where you come from, or who you are.

As one volunteer put it: “Hedge planting is a legacy for our children and their future – and I’ve also had a blast!”

What happens now?

Although the planting phase has finished, the work doesn’t stop here. Over the coming months we will be focusing on caring for the young hedges to give them the best possible start. This will include mulching, strimming and installing drip-pipe irrigation where needed, as well as running further volunteer sessions to plant understory species such as violets and primrose.

We are also planning a series of wildlife surveys in partnership with specialists. Bat surveys, botanical surveys and invertebrate monitoring will help establish a baseline of species present at the sites so we can track how the hedgerows benefit wildlife over time.

The hedgerow in spring

With spring now arriving, the hedgerows we planted over the winter will soon begin to show their first signs of life. New buds and leaves have started to appear along the young whips, while the surrounding countryside is beginning to wake up. Over time these hedges will thicken and mature, providing nesting sites for birds, shelter for small mammals and valuable food sources for insects.

Although they may look modest now, the hedges planted this winter are the beginning of something much bigger. In years to come they will become established features of the Hertfordshire landscape — living boundaries that support wildlife and help shape the countryside for generations.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this season of Hedgerow Heroes such a success. There will still be lots of opportunities to get involved before the season starts again in October, so please email us at volunteering@cpreherts.org.uk if you’re interested in helping our hedges.