The environmental benefits of hedgerows have always been understood. But the introduction of hedge specific SFI schemes such as BN11 Planting New Hedges, and HRW2: Manage Hedgerows has seen an increase in activity across England in terms of hedgerow establishment.
This increase in activity comes at a time that sees Bright Seeds undertaking a new venture in growing and providing hedgerow plants for landowners.
So, we are now able to use our teams vast expertise to help landowners, shoot managers, gamekeepers and farmers establish BN11 schemes, alongside other popular SFI initiatives.
Environmental Benefits of BN11 Planting New hedges
Hedgerows provide an abundance of environmental benefits, which is a key reason why schemes like BN11 Planting New hedges have been included in the sustainable farming incentive.
From assisting native pollinator populations, to capturing atmospheric carbon, hedges tick boxes across the board.
- Pollinators –
A healthy pollinator population needs three key things, these are a source of pollen and nectar for food (from spring until autumn), safe flyways (or b-lines), and a safe and secure place to overwinter and breed.
A well-maintained hedgerow provides all of the above. Certain hedgerow species are excellent at providing a food source in early spring, which helps queen bees and young pollinators. Then, other species provide pollen and nectar sources later in the spring, throughout summer and into autumn. Unlike many crops, that only flower for a few weeks, a balanced hedgerow can provide food throughout the spring-autumn period.
As mentioned, pollinators like a path or a b-line to follow; a habitat that provides shelter from predators and weather conditions. Hedgerows provide this in abundance. This shelter also provides the perfect breeding and overwintering habitat.
- Food Source for Birds –
It is thought that hedges support up to 80% of our woodland and farmland bird populations, and a key reason for this is the food that they provide.
Berries, nuts and leaves make up the bulk of the food sources, but the insects attracted by the nectar can also be an excellent, high-protein food source for chicks and hatchlings.
Due to the rich food source, hedgerows can also be a habitat enjoyed by game birds.
- Carbon Capture –
Hedgerows are a fantastic source of carbon sequestration and storage. This means that both the vegetation and the soil from the hedges store atmospheric carbon, demonstrating another way that the work that farmers and gamekeepers do can reduce carbon and the environmental damage that it causes. BN11 Planting New Hedges is proven to assist with this.
The BN11 Planting New Hedges and HRW2: Managing Hedgerows schemes are not limited to the above-mentioned benefits.
When managed correctly, hedges are a proven way to boost biodiversity, are great for creating shade and fodder for animals, and can prevent water flow and run off. They also provide natural corridors.
Hawthorn is often the most prominent species within a hedge
Our Hedge Plant Process
We are now growing our own hedge plants in house, from seed, in order to help our customers meet their hedging and BN11 Planting New Hedges requirements.
This is a rather difficult and complex process that has needed all of our expertise.
The seed is harvested from the wild from existing hedgerows with the specification that we want. The germination process is particularly complicated, and it highlights why only experienced seed merchants are able to grow successful hedge plants.
To germinate, the seed needs to be stratified, which involves a period of the seed being frozen in order to germinate. Other issues when growing hedges include weed control and disease. So, there has been a lot of overcome to make this successful.
How We Can Help
We are providing a BN11 Planting New Hedges UK hedge pack. This bundle consists of field maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and dogwood, and is fully compliant with the BN11 scheme. The bundle will provide a mixed, native hedge rather than simply a monoculture of one species.
The plants can be bought from us as a bare root hedging plant, which then gets planted out from there.
We can also provide advice on hedges, including times to plant them and where they will be most effective.
A bed of hazel plants growing at Bright Seeds’ designated hedging site
BN11 Planting New Hedges Scheme
There are a lot of people putting in new hedges or replacing and patching up hedges under stewardship capital work grants, with the BN11 Planting New Hedges scheme proving particularly popular.
The scheme pays £22.97 per metre of hedgerow and is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants on the following:
- sites of former hedgerows – as shown on historic maps or other records
- sites where creation would extend or link existing lengths of hedgerow
- sites where creation will help reduce soil erosion and runoff
- sites close to slurry or digestate stores, livestock housing or free-range areas for poultry or pigs where creation will help capture ammonia emissions
- can only be used when the applicant has “management control” of both sides of the boundary.
Work must be carried out between 1st November and 31st March.
Please contact the office and speak to one of the team for more information on our hedge plants