Farming in Protected Landscapes Case Study:
Hedges and Fencing at Rix Farms
For Year 4 of the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, £19,937 was to
P G Rix Farms Ltd for projects to restore 1km of hedgerow and remove barbed
wire and replace it at Wissington Grove.
Why was the work needed?
These two projects were aimed at restoring a traditional hedge through coppicing and new planting; removal of old, derelict barbed wire fencing; and installation of new barbed wire fencing.
The hedge restoration elements will see an important landscape feature restored and improved for biodiversity. The adjacent fields are grazed by cattle and fencing is needed to protect the coppice hedge and new planting from livestock damage.
The projects will generate recognised biodiversity, carbon sequestration and landscape benefits, and the hedge will be allowed to grow up and out, and will not be trimmed annually, thus creating better hedgerow habitat.
What role to hedges play in the landscape?
Natural England comment that South Suffolk and North Essex Clayland’s 'Large, often ancient hedgerows' are relevant key characteristics of the area and 'link woods and copses, forming wooded skylines'.
The document includes objectives to 'protect and enhance the area’s ancient hedgerows, through the management of hedgerows and hedgerow trees to benefit landscape character, habitat connectivity and the strengthening of the sense of place and history.' (National Character Assessment 86). Natural England’s aim is to promote 'Conserving, managing and replanting hedgerows, especially those that are ancient and species rich, in a manner consistent with the historical patterns'.
This project will contribute to these objectives. Many creatures live in our hedgerows, including nesting birds, such as bluetits, bullfinches, tree sparrows and whitethroat, hibernating hedgehogs, dormice and other small mammals, as well as insects like beetles and butterflies. Hedge numbers had declined rapidly over the last 100 years or so, as the pressure to maximise profit from the land grew and lead to intensive farming methods.
Some farming practices had been damaging than others in the past, such as chemicals spread too close to the hedge and hedge cutting in the wrong season. There is now far more awareness of farming in a way which works to support nature conservation, climate and an environment for people to enjoy.
Larger trees have been left, smaller trees and shrubs are trimmed down. The spring will bring new, thicker growth which will be protected from grazing cattle by the new fencing.
