Sherwood’s landscape of trees and hedges
Hedgerow surveys and training
Volunteers were trained to conduct tree and hedge surveys on behalf of landowners that were interested in doing more to enhance the landscape. By using the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) 'Healthy Hedges' survey model, we now have a good understanding of the current status and management of hedgerows in Sherwood.
Example - The Miner2Major Roving Volunteers put their ‘healthy hedges’ training into practice and undertook a hedge survey at Tippings Wood. This identified some opportunities for changing the management of the hedges to improve their wildlife value. Leading on from this, the group undertook some hedge laying at the site, which meant that they went through the whole process of: training, surveying, identifying management options and undertaking practical hedge management.
Landowner engagement
With the help of Lesley Sharpe, the Farmed Environment Advisor, who has been advising local farmers for many years, we approached local landowners to offer advice, training and grant assistance for hedgerow improvements, to improve the health of trees and hedges on their land.
To increase our capacity to deliver hedge surveys and action plans (following the delayed start due to COVID-19) we also worked with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT) to undertake additional ‘hedge health’ surveys and produce Hedge Action Plans which was used to apply for Miner2Major Trees and Hedges grant funding and other support mechanisms such as Countryside Stewardship Schemes.
In total, surveys have been undertaken on 25 different land holdings and we received a number of applications for support and awarded 6 M2M grants for hedge and hedgerow tree planting projects:-
Example project – Rufford Forest Farm, was completed in February 2022. 600 metres of new hedge was planted, along with over 300 metres of gapping-up and 59 hedgerow trees. The hedges have created new linkages between the internal farm hedge network and to adjacent woodland. Much of the planting was done using biomat to help control weed competition and reduce the need for herbicides. The project was jointly funded with the Trees for Climate programme.
Several projects were signposted to alternative funding sources e.g. Severn Trent Water and Trees for Climate which enabled them to complete the hedge planting works identified through the Trees and Hedges project.
Through the project, we have planted 2.85 km of new hedge and 120 hedgerow trees and have a commitment from a number of landowners to adopt more sensitive hedge management.
Going forward, funding for tree, hedge and hedgerow tree planting is still available from a number of sources. For more information, please contact:- greenwood@nottscc.gov.uk
Community events
We worked with local communities to help them to learn about their existing trees and hedgerows, encouraged and supported them to care for and protect them.
We also supported local groups to plant new trees on publicly accessible land. Some of these trees were named to commemorate a local hero, legend or story of interest or linked to an annual event.
Support for community planting events is still available through the Greenwood Community Forest. For further information, please contact: greenwood@nottscc.gov.uk