LINKING WILDLIFE HABITATS

Habitat loss over the last 50 years or so has resulted in many habitats becoming fragmented. As such, wildlife populations become isolated as they are no longer able to move easily from one patch to another. The habitat creation opportunities described on the previous pages can, when planned carefully, form part of the solution to this problem by creating links (wildlife corridors) between existing habitats especially those of a similar type. Examples might include:

Planting a new hedge between two areas of woodland
Replacing a missing section of hedgerow
Linking two separate areas of wildflower grassland with a grass or
wildflower strip

A range of habitats running parallel to one another such as a hedge or grass strip along a ditch or water course will provide further links between three different but vitally important habitats. Ideally, the links should be continuous but if this isn't possible, a series of habitat patches will still be of use in enabling wildlife to move more freely through the countryside. When attempting to link existing areas through habitat creation, always be very careful that in doing so you do not create harriers through other areas. For example, it would be pointless to join two areas of woodland by planting a hedge through an area of wildflower grassland. The golden rule is to only plan habitat creation on areas without any significant existing wildlife value.

Hedgerow Planting

Remove all nettles and perennial weeds from the planting line using an appropriate herbicide. Choose a variety of approximately five species of hedgerow plants (contact us for order details). As a suggestion:

50% Hawthorn
10% Hazel
15% Blackthorn
10% Wild privet
15% Field maple

other species, such as Dogwood, Spindle, Buckthorn, Holly and Dog Rose can be added for extra interest.
Plant mixed double staggered rows between November and February and protect young plants against rabbits with a plastic spiral guard. To prevent long term persistance of weeds, sow our hedgerow mixture in the secong autumn after planting and manage as wildflower grassland.

Long Term Management
Trim the hedge every two or three years between November and February to a height of approximately 6.5 feet, allowing some of the plants to become hedgerow trees.