Hedgerow Heroes – the final push

James Lunt, our CPRE Hertfordshire Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer, gives an update on the project so far.

Finally, after what has felt like constant rain, the weather seems to have turned, and the ground itself is finally showing signs of drying. Just in time, as we only have until mid-March to finish planting 2.5 km of hedgerow! You’ll notice this is more than our original target of 2.1 km, which we are able to plant due to generous donations from our Big Give campaign as well as a grant from the Tree council.

Planting in the elements

Despite these difficult conditions, our volunteers have managed to plant a massive amount, bringing our running total up to 1.25 km in the ground. This equates to just a bit more than 6,000 whips (small hedge plants)!

This is a fantastic effort from everyone involved. It takes a lot to plant a hedge, from those marking out the hedgeline, to others digging holes, and those following behind, carefully placing the delicate roots of spindle, hawthorn, guelder rose and many others into their new home in the Hertfordshire clay.

The growing stems will record the events of a soggy (though sometimes sunny) winter day in 2026, the tangled branches standing out like our own signature on the landscape. In many years’ time, a mother wren will sing out her own song of praise to those planters that braved the cold wind, so that she can raise her brood in the warm embrace of the hedge.

The joy of volunteering

I’m very lucky to have a job like mine, where I not only get to take part in the act of creating new habitats for wildlife, but also to meet brilliant people that feel the same calling. There isn’t an insignificant number of people that care about nature in Hertfordshire, and with just under 100 individual volunteers joining us on our planting days, there’s hope that the countryside still has its allies.

Meeting people that bring their own unique experiences to the countryside is doubly special, and I have learnt so much from talking to my volunteers about their own perspectives and stories. I really enjoy hearing about their memories of hedgerows past, the birds that used to be found in the local woodland, and the way the landscape has changed. Some of this can be difficult to hear, for someone that has grown up in an age of ecological collapse, but through their memories it feels like I can almost hear the nightingales call amongst Hertfordshire’s swaying boughs of hornbeam.

Everyone’s countryside

We also been able to offer the opportunity for Arboriculture and Countryside Management students from nearby Capel Manor College to come plant some hedgerows, taking the time from their lectures and assignments to ground themselves. They came out to Woodhall estate earlier this month, where I especially appreciated a hand with some of the big standards we’re planting in the hedge line, such as oak and elm.

Being joined by volunteers from the charity GIFT (Give It Forward Today) was extra special for me, where we celebrated the Jewish festival of Tu B’shvat, or the birthday of the trees, by planting some whips at Lannock farm, near Hitchin. Seeing families and young children getting stuck in was fantastic, and I hope we have some budding young ecologists who will remember doing this important mitzvah (or commandment).

Last chance to plant!

With more days planned, there’s still lots of planting to do. As the temperature warms up however, this signals that the end of the season is approaching.

With our final day planned for the 22nd March, this is your last month to get involved! We’ll be holding volunteer days every Wednesday and Sunday (except Sunday 8th), so please do get in touch if you’d be interested in participating. Our email is volunteering@cpreherts.org.uk