Key objectives for hedgerows

• Raise awareness of the importance of hedgerows for biodiversity.
• Identify ancient and species-rich hedgerows in Barnsley and assess their condition.
• Analyse records of populations and assemblages of wildlife species* in the most significant hedgerows identified and undertake additional surveys where relevant.
• Promote and support good hedgerow management practice to improve their value for biodiversity, including through stewardship schemes.
• Encourage planting of new native species-rich hedgerows, particularly to provide wildlife corridors.
• Ensure that the best hedgerows for biodiversity are identified as Local Wildlife Sites and that threatened hedgerow trees are protected if possible through Tree Preservation Orders.

*including … populations and mapping of breeding Song Thrush, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer; all known and potential White-letter Hairstreak sites in hedgerows.

Roles:

Landowners and tenants:

• manage hedgerows following best practice
• take up opportunities to restore or create new native species-rich hedgerows.

Barnsley Council as planning authority

• determines whether hedgerows are ‘important’ and should be retained under the hedgerow regulations.  
• sets conditions in planning decisions to ensure that the biodiversity value of existing hedgerows is maintained and potentially enhanced.

Natural England

• administers stewardship schemes for managing and restoring farmland habitats including hedgerows.
• funding requires hedgerows to be kept in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition

Voluntary groups and volunteers

• can help with hedgerow management and surveys where appropriate as well as with community hedgerow laying schemes.
• can help provide records to the Barnsley Biological Record Centre of the condition of our hedgerows and of the wildlife that is supported by them..

What has been done

• 1.2km hedgerow planted since 2004 at Carlton Marsh, Worsbrough country park & Cannon Hall. BMBC
• 2.3km hedgerow laid at Carlton Marsh, Worsbrough country park and Wombwell Main. BMBC
• 150m hedgerow at Shaw Lane sports ground.
• Considerable lengths of hedgerow planted at Old Moor by RSPB
• Hedgerow creation/laying at Park Springs.
• 600 m hedgerow laid and restored at Houghton wetlands, RSPB, 2018.
• Hedge laying training DVLP 2015-19
• Hedge laying training Worsbrough Mill

Proposed actions

• Project to identify old, likely species-rich, hedgerows from records and maps, with surveys of identified hedgerows.
• Promote assessment of condition of hedgerows through the PTES Great British Hedgerow Survey.
• Conservation of prioritised hedgerows as agreed with farmers and land owners.
• Prioritised hedgerow LWS designation with two additional hedgerow LWS in positive conservation management by 2030

Marking progress

• No reduction in extent of ancient, species-rich hedgerows.
• Increase in numbers and extent of species-rich hedgerows.
• Numbers and extent of hedgerows in positive conservation and favourable condition.
• Countryside stewardship or New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS) including hedgerows.

The Great British Hedgerow Survey is an interactive survey which can be used by landowners, managers and others.

It provides an instant health check for any hedge surveyed, as well as tailor made management advice to help your hedgerow thrive.

PTES Great British Hedgerow Survey

Hedgerow Actions