The glory of the Devon hedge

The significance and heritage of our local hedgerows should not be underestimated. Many date from the time when the fields were carved out of the surrounding forest and our much-revered ancient buildings were founded. Just like our church buildings, although hedges may have been altered, defaced or destroyed by subsequent generations, they still play a major part in conserving the farmland which they enclose by preventing erosion and water loss. Most importantly they provide a valuable habitat for many plants, mammals, insects and other invertebrates.

Our traditional Devon hedgerow has three components, all essential for wildlife: local stones and earth form the core of the hedge with shrubs and trees planted on the top and herbaceous plants covering the sides. In the spring, celandines and primroses followed by campions, stitchwort and bluebells provide a stunning patchwork of colour. The hedges in the Tamar Valley are often covered with cultivated daffodils while less showy wild daffodils and wood anemones are reminders of ancient woodland. The damp atmosphere of most Devon lanes encourages the prolific growth of many species of ferns most notably the Harts Tongue with its strap-like leaves, so different from the fronds of most of its relatives. Although not a fern, Pennywort is another very common shade loving hedgerow plant; it is distinguished by its fleshy disc-like leaves (giving it the alternative name of navelwort) and later in the year by spikes of creamy white flowers. These are just a few of the many species of plants that you can easily see growing in profusion in a hedge near you.

 The woody top of the hedgerow is usually composed of native trees such as hazels and willows whose wind pollinated flowers or catkins seem to herald the spring and are a welcome sight in late winter. The flowers or catkins of other native trees such as the oak and the birch are often overlooked, but they can be spotted later in spring as the young leaves unfurl. Later the dazzling displays of blackthorn and then hawthorn, rivalling that of any of the ornamental trees growing in our gardens, open their flowers for pollinating insects. Traditionally these hedges would have been managed by hand: every few years the woody stems would be cut through almost completely and bent over to lie horizontally. They survived this treatment and when the young shoots grew up through them, they produced a dense stock-proof barrier. Although it is still possible to find traditionally managed hedges, unfortunately this work is labour intensive and too often these days the barrier becomes degraded and barbed wire is installed for security purposes.  Modern mechanisation makes the job of maintaining most hedges relatively easy, but unfortunately much of the top growth is often cut right back or destroyed and even the herbaceous layer can be torn out, leading to the erosion of the hedge bank.

Our Devon hedgerows are a unique and fascinating part of our rural heritage providing an essential habitat for the survival of butterflies, moths and their larvae, bees and other pollinators, and also the tens of thousands of smaller insects, arachnids (spiders and their relatives) and invertebrates. These in their turn provide food for a whole network of mammals and birds. Devon has always been justifiably famous for its high hedges bordering networks of lanes and fields, which are as much a part of our heritage as our churches and ancient buildings, and hopefully will be with us far into the future. 

Pete Mayston