{"id":24615,"date":"2023-03-24T11:54:07","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T10:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=60441"},"modified":"2023-03-24T12:35:47","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T11:35:47","slug":"hedgerow-plants-and-flowers-guide-history-and-how-to-identify-common-species","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/hedgerow-plants-and-flowers-guide-history-and-how-to-identify-common-species\/","title":{"rendered":"Hedgerow plants and flowers guide: history and how to identify common species"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discover the flowers, shrubs and trees that make up a typical British hedgerow and why they are so important for wildlife, in our expert guide <\/p>

By Fergus Collins\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 24 March 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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What are hedgerows?<\/h2>\n
Hedgerows are linear strips of trees and shrubs that are grown to provide boundaries for fields. Historically, they were \u2018laid\u2019 whereby the woody trunks and stems of the plants are cut and woven together to make an impenetrable barrier to livestock. In essence, a hedgerow mimics a woodland edge, which offers habitat and vital food source for a range of fascinating species \u2013 and fruitful foraging for us. Learn why hedgerows are an important part of our landscape and how to identify hedgerow flora in our expert guide.<\/p>\n
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You may also like<\/p>\n
British seasonal wildflowers guide: how to identify, when to see and where to find them<\/a><\/li>\n
Summer wildlife guide: how to identify and where to see<\/a><\/li>\n
Meadow guide: where to see and best wildflowers to plant<\/a><\/li>\n
Explore our monthly guides to foraging<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>

$\""Spring\"$ <\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
What animals live in a hedgerow?<\/h2>\n
Hedges often have a wide variety of trees, shrubs and flowers, offering food in the form of leaves, flower nectar, berries and nuts as well as nesting and burrowing sites for birds and mammals and safe havens from danger. For instance, many birds hide their nests in the dense foliage of a hedge, offering protection from raptors such as sparrowhawks as well as ground-based hunters such as foxes, weasels and cats.<\/p>\n
The older the hedge, the wider the range of species. Hedgerows also act as linear woodlands, linking habitats across farmland that might otherwise offer little for wildlife.<\/p>\n
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Learn how to identify key hedgerow<\/a> trees and shrubs<\/h2>\n
Hazel, Corylus<\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Learn how to identify key hedgerow<\/a> trees and shrubs<\/h2>\n
Hazel, Corylus<\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Hazel, Corylus<\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

See how to identify nuts and seeds from British trees<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hawthorn, \u00a0<\/span>Crataegus<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Hawthorn, \u00a0<\/span>Crataegus<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Dog\u2019s mercury, Mercurialis perennis<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Sweet violet, Viola odorata <\/em>and common dog violet, Viola riviniana\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa<\/em><\/h3>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Primrose, Primula vulgaris<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Dog-rose, Rosa canina<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Blackberry, Rubus sp<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Purging buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica<\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

English elm, Ulmus procera<\/em><\/h3>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Elder, Sambuca nigra<\/em><\/b><\/h3>\n
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Crab apple, Malus sylvestris<\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>

Spindle, Euonymus europaeus<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Wayfaring tree, Viburnam lantana<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Dogwood, Cornus sanguinea<\/em><\/h3>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>