29/01/2026
Something wonderful is happening at Stoke Park Farm. The hedge is being layed 😍
Hedges are fantastic for wildlife. They act as corridors for birds and insects to travel along, providing food (berries) as they go and allowing space for them to rest and be protected. They also guide the way for bats on their travels.
This hedge at Stoke Park Farm sits between 2 ancient woodlands, owned by the Woodland Trust: Upper Barn Copse and Crowdhill Copse. Animals need a safe way to travel between these 2 woodlands but previously the connection was gappy, especially in Winter when there were no leaves.
The natural lifespan for a hedge is 70 years. However, if the branches are split and layed, they then sprout new shoots and they also last another 70 years. This can be done again and again (every 5-10 years) to extend the lifespan of the hedge. Not only does it live longer, but it becomes more dense to protect wildlife from predators as they travel through or even nest there.
Laying of this hedge has been on my heart for the past few years. 2 years ago, I approached Ellie from the Campaign to Protect Rural England who do hedgelaying and run courses. They had funding to lay the hedge and run a course for free. However, in 2024 the strategic land board at Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) said no.
In 2025, after asking again, putting the case that there is no cost and as the hedge runs along a public right of way it will remain, as well as the positive effects on wildlife and land in general. The strategic land board then said yes. But then Ellie said there was no funding this year 😫
However, Ellie then found funding and together with the wonderful senior ranger at EBC, Brad Brown, they organised a hedgelaying day for beginners and more experienced layers.
They performed a miracle, taking the 20 year old hedge that was slowly turning into a line of trees and extending its life by laying it. Trees are also beneficial but what really helps wildlife is a variety of habitats. The hedge here is something of a rarity surrounded by these 2 woodlands.
More than 20 volunteers turned up last Wednesday, despite extremely heavy rain, and started to lay the hedge. I was away so couldn't be there but some people who I know attended are: Bruce Mitchell, Richard Emery, Julie Quayle and anyone else seeing this please identify yourself. You did an incredible job and I cannot believe how good the hedge looks now.
Brad Brown and some of the team came back on Friday of last week and also Monday this week. There is still about 30 metres left to lay so we will be there next week on those days. I am delighted that I can join next week to help them finish off.
This will help our precious wildlife so much and Stoke Park Farm. So many thanks go to Brad Brown, Ellie Banks, Bruce Mitchell, Richard Emery, Julie Quayle and all the other volunteers and also to Martin Garea-Balado, who helped to persuade the strategic land board at EBC.
🐝🪱🦉🐦🐛🐞🦋🪰🪲🪳🕷️🦟🦎🐸🦔🐿️🐁🐾🌱🌿☘️🍀🪷🪻🍁
