It is recognised that hedges are important not just for biodiversity, but also for farming, landscape, cultural and archaeological reasons.

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1 Hedgerows Key associated species Barn Owl Black Hairstreak Black Poplar Brown Hairstreak Brown Hare Bullfinch Dormouse Dunnock Goldfinch Greenfinch Grey Partridge Linnet Pipistrelle Redwing Song Thrush Small Eggar Tree Sparrow Turtle Dove Yellowhammer BAP hedgerows within Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes may be taken as those which predominantly (over 80%) consist of at least one native woody species. Hedges consisting of a line of trees and shrubs are important habitats in their own right, especially important for butterflies and moths, farmland birds, bats and small mammals. It is recognised that hedges are important not just for biodiversity, but also for farming, landscape, cultural and archaeological reasons. 1 Current status in the UK Biological status 1.1 Native species hedgerows are a priority at the national level. Hedgerows are the most significant wildlife habitat over large stretches of lowland UK, supporting a great diversity and providing an essential refuge for a great many woodland and farmland plants and animals. 1.2 In 1998 it was estimated that about 475,000 km of hedgerow remained in the UK as a whole. Though the trend had been one of loss (16% since 1983) the amount of hedgerows across the country had stayed stable since (DEFRA 2006) 2 Current status in Buckinghamshire Cover and distribution 2.1 Hedgerows are an important linear habitat which can be found throughout most of Buckinghamshire. In some areas of intensively managed countryside, hedgerows may represent the only significant 1

2 wildlife habitat. Buckinghamshire, and the Chilterns in particular, has a relatively high proportion of ancient or species-rich hedges. 2.2 The size, value and species composition of hedges varies according to locality, management, adjacent land use and antiquity. Generally the richest hedges are those which pre-date the Enclosures Acts ( ) and probably derive from ancient woodland or boundary banks between fields, many of which were created during Anglo-Saon times. In Buckinghamshire most of the hedges in the north of the County date from the time of enclosure while the Chilterns has a higher proportion of ancient hedges. The most notable of the latter is the Black Hedge at Princess Risborough, known to have been in eistence since AD There are no figures available for total length of hedgerows in the County. It should be noted that no systematic survey of hedgerows has been undertaken across the whole of Bucks. Hedges around Chartridge were surveyed in an intensive study by Peter Casselden. Elsewhere over 600 hedges were surveyed in 1994 within the area covered by the County Council s North Bucks Countryside Management Project (Brent 1994). Trends 2.4 The Countryside Survey 1990 (Barr et al 1991) revealed the total length of intact hedgerows in England had fallen by 20% during the period 1984 to There was a corresponding gain in fences and remnant hedges (those which are gappy and no longer provide a stockproof barrier). The same survey estimated that hedgerow loss was continuing at 5% per annum. A study of changes in habitat features within 12 tetrads across the County showed a loss of 34,039 m of hedges for the period and 257 m for Gains as a result of planting during these periods were 855 m and 565 m respectively (Jennings 1997). On a longer time scale it has been estimated that as much as 27% of the County's hedgerows were lost between 1947 and 1985 (NCC 1988). 2.5 Hedgerows are particularly important for birds. They offer nesting, feeding and roosting sites for many species. Key breeding species which utilise hedgerows include grey partridge, linnet, bullfinch and tree sparrow. Nationally, farmland bird populations have fallen to 60% of their 1990 levels (Defra, BTO, RSPB). 2.6 Notable invertebrates include black and brown hairstreak which are associated with the blackthorn hedges of north Bucks. The Small Eggar, a Red Data Book moth, has been recorded on hedgerows in the County. 2

3 2.7 Bats and small mammals utilise hedges as feeding corridors while brown hares are dependent upon the cover of the hedge bottom. There are few key species of plant only associated with hedgerows but the black poplar, which has its national stronghold in the Vale of Aylesbury, is characteristic in hedges which adjoin ditches and streams. 3 Current factors affecting the habitat Management 3.1 Hedges are removed or damaged through agricultural operations such as changes from mied farming to arable specialisation where larger fields are required. 3.2 Inappropriate management is carried out, such as annual flailing, spraying of pesticides and herbicides into hedge bottoms. 3.3 Neglect leads to the development of gaps and a decline in their biodiversity value. 3.4 A drive towards tidiness leads to over manicured hedges with consequential loss in available food and habitats for birds as fruit is trimmed off each year. 3.5 There has been a loss of hedgerow trees, initially elm but now ash and oak, increasingly affected by disease and senescence. 3.6 Traditional hedgerow management skills have declined, such as hedgelaying with consequent high costs of employing people to carry out this work. 3.7 Elder and suckering elm prevents regeneration of other species. Development 3.8 Hedges are removed as a consequence of development, such as new housing areas. 3.9 Losses are due to new roads, road widening and highways improvements. Policy and economics 3.10 There is a lack of incentives to lay, manage or replant hedges and available funding is limited The current Hedgerow regulations do not give full protection. 3

4 4 Current action Legal status 4.1 The Hedgerow Regulations that came into force in June 1997 require owners of hedges intending to remove them to notify the local planning authority so that the authority can prevent the removal of hedgerows classified as important. 4.2 Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) can be placed on hedgerow trees for their landscape value. Any proposed works to the trees require prior approval from the local planning authority. However, the hedge itself cannot be protected under the TPO. 4.3 The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 states the importance of hedgerows and other linear features as wildlife habitats and mechanisms for dispersal. As such their protection and management are encouraged. This is also reflected in PPS 9 Biodiversity & Geological Conservation. 4.4 Entry Level Stewardship has options that include hedgerow management specifying hedge height, frequency of cutting, and uncultivated buffer zones. Higher Level Stewardship options for hedgerows specify target species of farmland birds. Management, research and guidance 4.5 Restoration of damaged hedgerows can be achieved through laying, coppicing and gapping-up. There are hedgerow management options in Environmental Stewardship. 4.6 Hedge planting and management advice and/or grant-aid is available from Countryside Management Projects and FWAG. 4.7 Hedgerow loss is identified as a major issue to be addressed in a number of documents and strategies eg Natural Area profiles, Bucks County Council Landscape Strategy. 4.8 The UK Biodiversity Steering Group (HMSO 1995) produced a national costed Action Plan for ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows and a Habitat Statement for boundary features (hedges, walls and ditches). The National BAP Priority Species and Habitat Review 2007) has included an updated definition of BAP priority hedgerows. 5 Objectives 5.1 It is important that Habitat Action Plan objectives and actions are considered in conjunction with those in Generic Issues (see Generic Issues). All Generic objectives and actions apply to each individual Habitat Action Plan. 4

5 5.2 The will contribute to the following targets in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 Maintain the net etent of hedgerows across the UK Maintain the overall number of individual, isolated hedgerow trees (estimated by CS 2000 to be 1.8 million in Great Britain in 1998) and the net number of isolated veteran trees (to be estimated for the first time by CS 2007). Ensure that between 2005 and 2010 hedgerows remain, on average, at least as rich in native woody species. Achieve favourable condition of 243,000 km (35%) of hedgerows by 2010 and 348,000 km (50%) by (Target does not include Northern Ireland.) Reverse the unfavourable condition of over-managed hedgerows across the UK by reducing the proportion of land managers who trim most of their hedges annually to 60% by Halt further decline in the condition of herbaceous hedgerow flora in Great Britain by 2010 (and improve their condition by 2015). (Target does not include Northern Ireland.) Improve the condition of the hedgerow tree population by increasing numbers of young trees (1-4 years) in Great Britain to 40,000 by 2010 and 80,000 by (Target does not include Northern Ireland.) Achieve a net increase in the length of hedgerows of an average of 800 km per year in Great Britain to 2010 and 2015 (Target does include Northern Ireland.) 6. Biodiversity Opportunity Areas Hedgerows may be a Priority Habitat in the following Biodiversity Opportunity Areas Ashridge and Ivinghoe Beacon Bernwood Brill and Muswell Hills Central Chilterns Chalk Rivers Chess Valley Claydon and Padbury Streams Colne Valley Dunsmore Woodlands Gomm Valley 5

6 Greensand Ridge Hambleden and Wormsley Valleys Medmenham Milton Keynes City Ouse Valley Ouzel Valley Prestwood Radnage Valley South Bucks Heaths & Parklands South Western Commons Thame Valley Thames Valley Tingewick Meadows and Woodlands Upper Hughenden Valley Upper Ray Wendover Woods Whaddon Chase Whittlewood Ridge Yardley Chase 6

7 National Target Code Target Action Start End Action location Lead Other Orgs Target total T1 - Maintain the net etent of H1 Maintain the net etent hedgerows across the UK of hedgerows in Bucks T2 - Maintain the overall number of individual isolated hedgerow trees and the net number of isolated veteren trees T3 Ensure that between 2005 and 2010 hedgerows remain on average at least as rich in native woody species T4 Achieve favourable condition of 243,000 km of hedgerows by 2010 and 348,000 km by 2015 T5 Reverse the unfavourable condition of over-managed hedgerows across the UK by reducing the proportion of land managers who trim most of their hedges annually to 60% by 2010 T6 Halt further decline in the condition of herbaceous hedgerow flora in Gt Britain by 2010 and improve condition by 2015 T7 Improve the condition of the hedgerow tree popultaion by increasing numbers of young trees in Gt Britain H1/1 Ensure all planning applications involving hedgerow removal are assessed against the Hedgerow Regulations H1/2 Record quantity of hedgerow removed through monitoring of planning process. Identify important hedges which should be afforded protection through the Environment Act 1995 (Hedgerow Regulations 1997) H2 Maintain and improve condition of eisting hedgerows H2/1 Ensure that all appropriate hedgerows within SSSIs and local authority and Bucks & MK AVDC CDC MKC SBDC WDC Bucks & MK AVDC CDC MKC SBDC WDC BMERC BBOWT BCC 2007 Bucks & MK NE AVDC CDC MKC SBDC X planni ng applic ations X m hedger ow remov ed X m manag Baseline 7

8 T8 - Achieve a net increase in the length of hedgerows of an average of 800km per year to 2010 and 2015 conservation group owned land are positively managed. H2/2 Provide practical demonstrations of good hedgerow management techniques Encourage applications for Environmental Stewardship which contain management of hedgerows and creation of buffer strips adjacent to hedgerows H3 Restore eisting hedgerows H3/1 Encourage gapping up and restoration of neglected hedgerows to augment or link eisting habitats with newly planted or tagged standard trees. H4 Create new hedgerows H4/1 Incorporate planting of new species rich development in Aylesbury Vale H4/2 Incorporate planting of new species rich development in Chiltern H4/3 Incorporate planting of new species rich development in Milton Keynes H4/4 Incorporate planting of new species rich development in South Bucks H4/5 Incorporate planting of new species rich development in Wycombe WDC CCB BBOWT 2007 Bucks & MK FWAG BBOWT AVDC WDC ed 2 Events Bucks & MK FWAG Bucks & MK FWAG AVDC CDC MKC SBDC WDC NFU Aylesbury Vale TBA AVDC BMKBP 3 km X m Chiltern TBA CDC BMKBP X m Milton Keynes TBA MKC BMKBP X m South Bucks TBA SBDC BMKBP Wycombe TBA WDC BMKBP X m X m 8