Create a garden wildlife hedge

30th December, 2022

A hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and trees that is used to mark the boundary between two properties or to provide privacy and shelter. Native British hedgerows are typically made up of a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, which provide food and habitat for a variety of wildlife.

They are an iconic feature of the British countryside, and play an important role as wildlife corridors. Unfortunately, since WWII thousands of miles of hedgerows have been removed, as agriculture modernised and became more intensive, with larger fields. However, there is growing numbers of hedgerow restoration projects, and efforts to increase the number of hedgerows in the countryside, and there still remains thousands of miles of hedgerows. Even if you have just a few metres of a border in your garden, you can grow your own wildlife hedge.

The best time to plant a new hedge is in autumn or winter when the ground is not frozen or water logged. Water the hedge for the first two years, after it is planted, during dry weather. Remember to plant the line of hedging in from the border line, if it is along a border of a neighbouring garden, with no fence in between, so it does not crowd into the neighbours garden. Ideally the neighbour will also approve of planting a wildlife hedge and agree to keep their side trimmed. If there is no suitable border, you could always plant a few hedging plants on a lawn together, and keep them trimmed as a square.

Here are 10 plants that can be used to create a wildlife hedge in your garden.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Hawthorn is a small tree or large shrub that is commonly used in hedgerows. It has thorny branches and white or pink flowers that bloom in May. The berries that follow are an important food source for birds, such as blackbirds, thrushes, and fieldfares.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Blackthorn is a small tree or large shrub that is related to Hawthorn. It has dark, shiny leaves and small, white flowers that bloom in April. The berries, are also feasted on by garden birds.

Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus)

Guelder rose is a deciduous shrub that has large, flat clusters of white flowers that bloom in June. (Although called a rose, it does not have rose flowers). The small flowers attract hoverflies, and it has red berries, later in the year.

Sloe (Prunus spinosa)

Sloe is a small tree or large shrub that is related to Hawthorn. It has small, white flowers that bloom in May. The berries that follow are an important food source for birds. They can also be used to make Sloe Gin, a traditional British winter drink.

Hazel (Corylus avellana)

Hazel is a deciduous shrub or tree that has small, yellow flowers that bloom in March. The nuts that follow are an important food source for animals such as dormice, squirrels, woodpeckers and nuthatches. The hazelnuts can also be harvested for use in baking, and pruned branches, can be used to make small hurdle fences, obelisks, and trellis.

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Rowan is a deciduous tree that has small, white flowers that bloom in May. The red berries that follow are an important food source for birds such as blackbirds, redwings, redstarts, and mistle thrushes.

Crab apple (Malus sylvestris)

Crab apple is a deciduous tree that has small, white flowers that bloom in May. The autumn fruits can be used to make crab apple jelly. Animals including crows, voles, foxes, and badgers all eat the fruit. The leaves are a food source for many types of moth caterpillars.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

Holly is an evergreen shrub or tree that has small, white flowers that bloom in May. The berries that follow are eaten by birds, wood mice and dormice. The leaves are a food source for the holly blue butterfly. Cuttings of the leaves and berries can be taken at Christmas for door wreaths and for decorating the home interior.

Ivy (Hedera helix)

Ivy is an evergreen climbing plant that has small, white flowers that bloom in September. ivy is a great source of late nectar when many other flowers have died. It can be grown to trail over over parts of the hedge, and also on the ground. Like Holly it can also be used for making door wreaths at Christmas.

Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa)

Forsythia is a deciduous shrub that has large, yellow flowers that bloom in April. The flowers are an early food source for bees. Although not native to Britain and wouldn't be planted in a farm hedgerow, it is a popular garden shrub, and the yellow flowers look great in early spring.

As you can see from above, growing a hedge using some of these plants, instead of, or in front of a fence, will create a mini habitat for garden birds, and insects, that will make your garden much more wildlife friendly.