Why plant a native hedge?

A mixed native hedge is one of the most generous things you can give to wildlife. It offers food, shelter and nesting sites in a single living structure. Unlike a fence or a wall, a hedge grows, flowers, fruits and changes with the seasons. It provides a highway for small mammals, a larder for birds and a nursery for insects. Even a short run of hedge — say three or four metres — can make a real difference in a garden. It also gives you privacy, a windbreak and a beautiful, changing backdrop throughout the year.

The three cornerstones: hawthorn, hazel and blackthorn

These three native species are the backbone of a traditional British hedgerow. Plant them together and you will have flowers, nuts, berries and dense, thorny cover.

• Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): The classic hedgerow tree. Dense, thorny and incredibly valuable. Its May blossom feeds early bees and other pollinators, while its autumn haws are eaten by thrushes, redwings and fieldfares. The tight branching habit makes it ideal for nesting birds.
• Hazel (Corylus avellana): Less thorny but equally useful. Catkins in late winter provide pollen for bees. Its nuts are prized by squirrels, dormice, jays and woodpeckers. Hazel responds well to coppicing and its broad leaves create a soft, sheltered understorey.
• Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa): The first hedge to flower, often in March before the leaves appear. Its sloes are food for thrushes and small mammals in winter. The dense, thorny thickets are perfect for nesting warblers and wrens. It does sucker, so plant it where that is welcome.

Planning your hedge: site, soil and spacing

Most native hedging will grow in sun or light shade, but flowering and fruiting are best in a sunny spot. They tolerate a range of soils, from clay to sandy loam, as long as it is not waterlogged. A mixed hedge looks natural, so vary the order. For a dense, stock-proof hedge, plant in a double row with 30–45 cm between plants and about 40 cm between the rows. Stagger the plants so they form a zigzag. If you want a single row, space plants at 30 cm. You will need roughly five to seven plants per metre for a double row. Bare-root whips are cheap, establish quickly and should be planted between November and March, when the ground is not frozen and the soil is workable.

How to plant bare-root whips

Good preparation makes all the difference. Clear the ground of perennial weeds before planting — grass and creeping buttercup will compete badly with young whips.

• Soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour before planting.
• Dig a trench about 30 cm deep and wide enough for the roots to spread out.
• Improve the soil with well-rotted garden compost or leafmould, but do not add rich fertiliser — it encourages soft growth that frost can damage.
• Place the whips so the soil mark on the stem sits at the same level as the surrounding ground. Firm the soil gently around the roots with your heel.
• Water well, even if the ground is damp.
• Mulch with a 5–8 cm layer of bark chippings or well-rotted manure, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Protect against rabbits and deer with spiral guards or a mesh fence. A cane next to each whip makes them easy to find and stops them being strimmed.

Aftercare for the first three years

Weed control is the single most important thing. Keep a metre-wide strip clear around the hedge, either by hand-weeding or with a mulch. Water deeply in dry spells during the first two summers. In the first winter after planting, cut the whips back by about a third. This seems harsh, but it encourages bushy growth from the base. After that, trim the sides and top once a year in late winter. Never trim between March and August — that is peak nesting season. For a truly wildlife-friendly hedge, consider trimming only every second or third year, or laying the hedge instead of cutting it. Laying involves partially cutting the stems and bending them over, which creates a dense, living barrier. It is a traditional craft worth learning.

A year of wildlife in your hedge

In early spring, blackthorn blossom is a lifeline for early bees. Hawthorn follows in May, filling the hedge with scent and pollen. By summer, the dense thorny growth is full of nests: robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and warblers all raise young in its safety. Hazel catkins in late winter and hazelnuts in autumn feed a huge range of creatures. In autumn and winter, haws and sloes provide vital calories for migrating thrushes and resident birds. Even dead leaves and decaying wood at the base support insects, which in turn feed birds and hedgehogs. A mixed native hedge is not just a boundary — it is a self-renewing ecosystem in your garden. Plant one this winter and you will be rewarded for decades.