Roseberry Topping’s Hedgerow: A Conservation Success Story

Hedgerows, those underappreciated lines of greenery crisscrossing the countryside, are not just decorative. They actually serve a purpose: holding soil in place, shielding livestock from the elements, and making rotational grazing less of a logistical headache. They also connect habitats, encourage biodiversity, and even drag a bit of carbon out of the atmosphere.

Of course, the latter half of the 20th century saw the obliteration of many lowland hedges. Farmers, dazzled by the efficiencies of larger fields, took to grubbing them out of the ground. This left the land exposed to wind, straying livestock, and wandering humans, but never mind. The old benefits—shelter for crops and animals, deterrence against theft, and encouraging bird populations—were tossed aside in favour of convenience. Worn-out hedges, full of gaps and no longer worth the trouble, were labelled liabilities. For the few cases where hedges still had a use, they could be patched up with the ancient art of “laying,” or, depending on local whim, “plashing” or “pleaching.”

Hedge-laying involves the delicate art of hacking at the base of young growths—“quicks”—with a billhook, then weaving them diagonally with stakes and binders to create a dense barrier. Methods for placing stakes vary, but the aim remains the same: to coax new growth from the base while maintaining a hedge that cannot be breached.

In 2016, National Trust rangers and volunteers, including yours truly, planted 4,000 saplings for a new hedge near Roseberry Topping. Funded by the North York Moors National Park’s Traditional Boundary Scheme, this hedge, predominantly hawthorn with a sprinkling of blackthorn, maple, hazel, and dog rose, has finally matured enough to be laid. In a few years, it will provide a much-improved haven for wildlife. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing a plan come together!