This is really interesting and great to know that there are potentially huge opportunities for increasing the lengths of hedgerows in the urban environment. You might be interested in a piece I wrote about hedge-laying: https://open.substack.com/pub/ruthbradshaw/p/hedge-benefits?r=398i9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web. I mentioned how great it would be if we could replace all the fences around parks and school playgrounds with species-rich hedgerows but it didn't even occur me to think of "railway hedges".
A great idea, not only for habitat: fences being expensive, unsightly and more easily damaged / breached by humans. (Note though that wire fences have ‘planted’ thousands of miles of hedges through neglect worldwide, notably in the USA). The cost per m here was surprisingly high for all - probably owing to plot protection fences? If so, then maybe an unprotected bramble start might be worth a look? Please do keep us informed - one could theorise without end about expected outcome but, if a stock proof-hedge is wanted, then seeded seems likely to be the most successful, longer term (seeded trees choose whether or not to grow, whips have to try). It is probable that literally stock-proof means regular hedge-laying in the future and that seems certain to be more expensive than, ahem, fences: will the experiment run long enough to find out (and will decisions on wider use of hedges be thus encumbered)? One last thing - being low-level and restrained by cutting, autumn and winter hedge leaves are more locally retained than from high trees which may be another benefit to railways, (depending upon tree distribution). A most fascinating experiment and I really hope it encourages hedging over fences.
This is really interesting and great to know that there are potentially huge opportunities for increasing the lengths of hedgerows in the urban environment. You might be interested in a piece I wrote about hedge-laying: https://open.substack.com/pub/ruthbradshaw/p/hedge-benefits?r=398i9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web. I mentioned how great it would be if we could replace all the fences around parks and school playgrounds with species-rich hedgerows but it didn't even occur me to think of "railway hedges".
A great idea, not only for habitat: fences being expensive, unsightly and more easily damaged / breached by humans. (Note though that wire fences have ‘planted’ thousands of miles of hedges through neglect worldwide, notably in the USA). The cost per m here was surprisingly high for all - probably owing to plot protection fences? If so, then maybe an unprotected bramble start might be worth a look? Please do keep us informed - one could theorise without end about expected outcome but, if a stock proof-hedge is wanted, then seeded seems likely to be the most successful, longer term (seeded trees choose whether or not to grow, whips have to try). It is probable that literally stock-proof means regular hedge-laying in the future and that seems certain to be more expensive than, ahem, fences: will the experiment run long enough to find out (and will decisions on wider use of hedges be thus encumbered)? One last thing - being low-level and restrained by cutting, autumn and winter hedge leaves are more locally retained than from high trees which may be another benefit to railways, (depending upon tree distribution). A most fascinating experiment and I really hope it encourages hedging over fences.
What a great idea, it would be wonderful to travel through green corridors like that and know that all sorts of like would be enjoying them too.