The Carrs, that sprawling lowland nestled between Roseberry and the Eston hills. In this photo, the recently cropped arable fields contrast sharply with the lush green pastures. The hedgerows planted when farming practice was to rotate fields, show signs of neglect and are now ragged. They’ve probably been reinforced by post and wire stock fencing.
Not so long ago, farmers were encouraged to do away with these green barricades, expanding their fields in the name of increased food production.
Yet, hedgerows are not mere field boundaries; they are the pulsating veins that connect habitats. Beneath their canopies, a hidden world flourishes. Their understorey offers refuge for both flora and fauna. Tiny invertebrates find sanctuary, while birds and roaming creatures revel in the shelter and sustenance hedgerows provide.
But …
DEFRA, the guardian of our countryside, is now undergoing a “consultation” with a view to changing the regulations concerning hedgerows. A delicate maneuvering, perhaps, aiming to weaken the punishments for hedge removal, and a subtle ebbing away of their protections. Such notions have been mooted before, yet this time, they bear the hallmark of a Brexit “benefit” now that we are free from the restrictions of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The deadline looms, 20th September, for submissions. See here:
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/legal-standards/consultation-on-protecting-hedgerows/
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