Hedgerows: the unsung heroes of nature

Nestled within every town, city and stretch of countryside, lies a hidden hero of nature. Quietly they grow, providing an essential haven for birds, bees, hedgehogs and other creatures, all the while storing carbon and improving air quality for the local community. On top of all that, they gladden our streets and provide uplifting greenery.

What are these hidden heroes? Hedgerows!

Hedgerows are amazing. They are Englands largest priority habitat, supporting over 2,000 precious species - bumble bees, for example, use them to guide their foraging activity. They capture carbon above and below ground, alleviate flooding, provide corridors of connectivity for wildlife - and gather up particulates pollution to improve the air we breathe.

Hedges impact on our mental health and wellbeing too, connecting us with nature, lifting our spirits with springtime blossom, autumn berries and birdsong.

Despite this, we have seen the loss of 50% of our hedgerows since World War II, leaving great gaps in the maps of our cities and the countryside.

We face a climate and biodiversity emergency and we have to act now - hedgerows can be an essential part of our arsenal.

The Committee on Climate Change's recommendation to extend hedges by 40% means that 200,000km of hedgerow needs to be planted in the UK to help tackle climate change thats 3 metres of hedgerow per person in the UK.

Imagine the difference to the environment and to our mental health and wellbeing if every city railing or boundary had a hedgerow providing homes for wildlife, filters for pollution and beauty to lift the spirits!

Will you help us by planting or pledging your 3 metres of hedgerow?

If every person in the UK planted or pledged 3 metres of hedgerow we would meet the Committee on Climate Changes recommendation to extend hedges by 40%, by planting 200,000km of hedgerow to tackle climate change.

If you can plant your own hedgerow, do it! We encourage you to plant a variety of native species (native species are great for wildlife) such as hawthorn, beech, spindle, blackthorn, hornbeam, hazel, holly, field maple, buckthorn, dogwood or guelder rose. You can find help and resources to do this here.

If this isnt possible, you can pledge your support by making a donation and we can make it happen for you, planting new hedgerow in communities across the UK!

£15 plants 1 metre of hedgerow

£45 plants 3 metres of hedgerow

£90 - plants 6 metres of hedgerow

For every £15 donated 1 metre of pollution-busting hedgerow will be planted in communities around the UK. £12 of your donation will fund the cost of the hedgerow itself, as well as the hedge guards, maintenance and aftercare, and £3 will support the work of The Tree Council and our volunteers who are working to promote more trees and hedgerows.