1. Hedgerow removal and Diversity

2. The problem In the 1940’s there were 805 000 kilometres of hedgerow across Britain. The removal of hedgerows was started to provide larger, less restricted areas for heavy farming machinery and to meet the demand for an increase of food after the Second World War. In Britain the length of hedgerows has halved since the 1940’s. Britain looses an estimated 17 700 kilometres of hedgerow per year.

3. The Effects A large amount of wildlife live in hedgerows and birds nest in them. Hedgerows act as wildlife connecting woodland that has been separated, this means that organisms can only breed with each other in a small area. There is also a high plant biodiversity surrounding hedgerows as this area cannot be ploughed. The removal of hedgerows causes soil erosion as there is no longer protection from wind and rain. The removal of hedgerows also makes the soil less stable on slopes and causes soil creep and leeching of minerals.

4. How are effects overcome? The removal of hedgerows has decreased considerably since the 1980’s. Hedgerows are beginning to be replanted in some areas. Farmers are now leaving unfarmed wild areas around or on farmland for trees and wildlife to grow. Farmers must now have planning permission to remove hedgerows.