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St Georges Day - A Picture of England

23rd April, 2009

When you think of England what image comes into your head? Big Ben, cream teas, thatched cottages, a red rose, cricket? Well how about this as an image of England. The Hedgerow. They criss cross our countryside and are a rich wildlife habitat, bordering country lanes and dividing fields of wheat and barley.

  Credit: Nick Pringle

In 1945 it was estimated that there was over 500,000 miles of Hedgerows! By the 1990's over half of all hedgerows had been removed. 21 out of 28 lowland mammal, 69 out of 91 bird and 23 out of 54 butterfly species breed in hedges. They act as a wildlife corridor between woods, a wind break sheltering crops and stock and help prevent soil erosion. Put together they cover more land area than all our nature reserves.

Quiz Question

If you follow the lane on the photo down to the river you will come to a small cottage, that is the birthplace of a famous Englishman. Who is it?

CLUE - His invention was 'note' worthy.

Answer at the very bottom of the page.

Answer - George Stephenson inventor of the Steam Engine. He was featured on the £5 note. His birthplace was at Wylam, Northumberland.

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