Nigel Adams on hedgerow species and planting considerations

A guest extract for National Hedgerow Week 2026...

The author at work

National Hedgerow Week is on the horizon (May 4 - 10) and for 2026 the theme is ‘hedgerows are trees too’. We often think of hedges in their collective form but some of the UK’s most commonly found hedgerow species are also some of our best loved trees.

To celebrate, we’re delighted to share an extract from full time hedgelayer and consultant, Nigel Adams’ new book, Hedgelaying: The Complete Guide to a Traditional Rural Craft. You can hear from Nigel directly by reserving your spot at our National Hedgerow Week free, online talk, on Tuesday May 5 between 1-2pm, with an audience Q&A to follow.

For everything else National Hedgerow Week, please visit www.nationalhedgerowweek.org.uk

Extract from Hedgelaying: The Complete Guide to a Traditional Rural Craft

“There are two main types of hedgerow in the UK. The first is made up of mixed-species, ancient hedgerows, typically but not exclusively found in the South West, Wales and the bordering English counties, and any pockets of ancient countryside throughout the country. They often grow on banks and have evolved over centuries of species colonisation. Secondly, there are the hedges of the ‘champion land’ as it was called by many. The term ‘champion’ country comes from the French word ‘champs’, meaning large open fields. These, then, are areas that, having once been open fields, were enclosed between 1750 and 1860 with mostly single-species hawthorn hedges.

“Perhaps in the last 30 years we have created a third type, the mixed-species conservation hedge, encouraged by the advent of government agri-environment schemes; these paid landowners to plant more hedgerows, which called for mixed-species hedges to be planted for bio diversity gain. This concept is now known as ‘public money for public goods’, in that landowners are paid to provide ecosystem services that benefit all of us.

“Having multiple species in a hedge provides a pollen and nectar source for insects over an extended period, and the different fruits provide a mixed food source in the autumn. Butterflies are often particularly attracted to mixed hedges as many require a specific species of scrub on which to lay their eggs as part of their life cycle. The brown hairstreak butterfly, for example, requires blackthorn, while the brimstone uses buckthorn. In simple terms, mixed-species hedges attract a wider range of wildlife, from mammals to invertebrates, than single-species hedges, although this is not to say that single-species hedges have no benefits at all.

“The choice of species to plant within a hedge will depend on the soil, the local character, and the primary objective of the future hedge. For example, will it ever need to be stock-proof? Is it mainly for bio-diversity? Should it perhaps have both of those functions, or is it simply to be used as a screen or to produce wood fuel?

“From a hedgelaying point of view, it is always wise to have one or maybe two species that form the bulk of the hedging mix. The hedgelayer needs a substantial amount of solid wood species to make a strong hedge that will be robust and last a significant amount of time. By solid wood species, I mean those that naturally have the potential to become long-lived individual bushes or small trees, and that have a hardwood nature. Hawthorn is the ‘go-to’ species in many areas and has been for centuries. It has a robust wood that lays well. It does not throw sucker growth; it produces copious amounts of blossom and berries, and it has thorns to deter potential wandering livestock. Hazel is another robust species for hedgelaying, and in many parts of the country it is the dominant species. So while they are good to have as part of the mix for bio diversity reasons, species such as dogwood, wayfaring tree, guelder rose or spindle could not make a robust, long lasting laid hedge on their own.

“A typical planting mix might be 60 per cent of one main species, 20 per cent of a secondary species, and 20 per cent made up of four other species. Of course, everyone will have their own percentages and their own preferred species mix, but when planting, there is one golden rule: do not plant your new hedge in blocks of single species. A hedgelayer’s nightmare is to work on a hedge with 10m (33ft) of pure hawthorn, then 10m of wayfaring tree, 10m of blackthorn, 10m of hazel and so on. Mix up the planting as randomly as you can. I have met some farmers who have planted the standard double row of mixed plants, but concentrated the stronger species along one side of the hedge and the minority species along the other (sun-facing side). This seems to have worked well and could be a useful compromise as there is the potential, when laying the hedge, for the back row to form the main structure and for the minority species laid in from the front to attract the insects and pollinators on the sunny, warmer side.

“Adding species to any hedge mix is of course advantageous and to be encouraged, but we should be aware of the individual pitfalls of each species as well as their benefits. In my book, we look more closely at the more common species found in hedgerows in the UK, their value, and their adaptability to being laid. It is not an exhaustive list, and on occasion there will be species that you will come across in a hedge that are not included there at all. It is also not a list that means to denigrate any species: all have their place. These are purely the thoughts of one hedgelayer gathered over many years of hands-on experience.”

National Hedgerow Week runs from May 4 -10, for more information and to access resources, please visit www.nationalhedgerowweek.org.uk. Hedgelaying: The Complete Guide to a Traditional Rural Craft by Nigel Adams is available to purchase now, please visit www.crowood.com/book/hedgelaying/

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