Bristol Water employs historical hedge laying strategies to reinforce wildlife variety round Blagdon Lake, a 440-acre reservoir and trout fishery nestled within the Mendip Hills of Somerset. Designated as a Website of Particular Scientific Curiosity, the location options efforts to revive thinning hedgerows by laying trimmed base stems horizontally.
The Restoration Approach
Mike Reed, the hedge laying specialist overseeing the staff, emphasizes the urgency of those measures. “So many farmland and countryside birds face endangerment, together with hedgehogs, making these habitats important for nesting and dwelling,” Reed states. He additionally highlights the craft’s heritage: “Hedge laying represents a longstanding native custom, and I am dedicated to instructing it to the subsequent era by means of this initiative.”
This strategy permits daylight to succeed in the hedgerow bases, encouraging thick vertical development that provides winter shelter for birds, animals, and bugs. In distinction, typical mechanical trimming usually ends in sparse hedges, which fail to assist native wildlife successfully.
Mission Progress and Timeline
Groups have accomplished laying roughly 1,800 meters of hedge. Work pauses throughout chook nesting seasons to keep away from disturbing species. Spanning two years, the venture anticipates a surge in returning wildlife.
Simon Hughes, Bristol Water’s treescape officer, expresses optimism: “Hedgerows will quickly endure a dramatic transformation, and we’re thrilled to drive this important environmental shift.”
