Hedgerows Action Plan - Dorset
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Dartmoor

Devon

N Devon

Gloucestershire

S Somerset

Wiltshire

Hedgerows SW

Ancient &/or Species Rich Hedgerows UK

 Dorset Biodiversity Initiative
Key factors
Glossary  

Extent/Distribution

Hedgerows are an intimate element of the farmed landscape and are a refuge for a wide range of plants and animals. They act as wildlife corridors, providing protection and assisting dispersal of species in an otherwise fragmented landscape.

Ancient hedgerows, which tend to be those which support the greatest diversity of plants and animals, may be defined as those which were in existence before the Enclosure Acts passed mainly between 1720 and 1840 in Britain. Species-rich hedgerows may be taken as those which contain 5 or more native woody species on average in a 30 metre length. Hedges which contain fewer woody species but a rich basal flora of herbaceous plants are also included.

As a region, the south west probably has a greater number of species-rich hedges remaining than any other region in the UK. In Dorset, the west of the county holds the highest concentration of this habitat.

 

Threats

  • Removal of hedgerows and hedgerow trees.
  • Lack of buffer zones around hedges in an intensively farmed landscape leading to damage caused by ploughing, browsing stock and spray drift.
  • Neglect leading to gaps and loss of structure.
  • Inappropriate management – too frequent or ill-timed cutting prevents hedges from producing fruits and berries that are a food source for many species. The type of cutting can also damage hedges.
  • Knowledge of the Dorset resource.
  • Awareness of management issues.

Action Plan Objectives


1. Maintain the current network of ancient and species rich hedgerows.
2. Achieve favourable management and enhancement of ancient and species rich hedgerows.
3. Increase the length of species-rich hedgerows in Dorset.
4. Maintain the overall numbers of hedgerow trees to eventually obtain a balanced age structure.

Action Plan Targets

[see above]

Current Action

Removal of hedgerows and hedgerow trees.

Actions

  • Hedgerow Regulations 1997
  • Hedgerow planting

Lack of buffer zones

Actions

  • Some advice given through Environment Agency farm management advice and best practice manual.
  • Agri-environment schemes – conservation headlands and grass buffer strips.

Neglect/ lack of management


Actions

  • Agri-environment schemes grant aid management and restoration.

Inappropriate management

Actions

  • Agri-environment schemes and local authority grants aid planting, traditional and ongoing management.

Knowledge of Dorset resource

  • DERC research on hedgerow condition.


Awareness of management issues.

  • Advisory work. Newsletters/ leaflets.

Proposed Action

Policy and legislation

Ensure all hedgerow removal applications are ecologically evaluated through field surveys.

PARTNERS: LA’s, DERC
Raise awareness of importance of hedges not covered by Regulations and target for grant aid.

PARTNERS: LA’s, DEFRA

Ensure all hedges covered by the Regulations are ecologically assessed through the planning process. Utilise the Regulations to assess impacts of losing other hedges to development.

PARTNERS: DWT, FWAG

Target grants for planting to sites which link or reinforce existing hedges/ create corridors between other features/ help control run-off, using native species.

PARTNERS:
DEFRA, Purbeck BAP
LA’s, DERC



Management

Investigate options for lower cost widely available grant aid for hedge and hedgerow tree buffering.
PARTNERS: DEFRA, Dorset AONB

Assess impacts of road verge cutting regime; adjust if needed. Removal of cuttings on remaining ancient hedgebank verges should be a priority. DEFRA, Dorset AONB

PARTNERS:DCC, DWT

Make hedgerow grants more widely available.

PARTNERS:DEFRA, LA’s

Ensure appropriate maintenance requirements are within new agri-environment ‘entry level’ scheme.

PARTNERS: DEFRA, Purbeck BAP


Research and monitoring

Use results of DERC research on hedgerow condition (when completed) to inform hedgerow policies and grants in Dorset and more widely.

PARTNERS: DERC, DEFRA, WDDC

Use results of DERC project to produce Dorset-specific guidance on habitat quality.

PARTNERS: DERC, DWT, FWAG




Education and awareness raising

Investigate benefits of setting up a ‘Dorset Hedge Group’ AONB,

PARTNERS: FWAG, DWT, LA’s, NT


Progress

no information currently available

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