A dead hedge is a barrier constructed from cut branches, saplings, and

foliage A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...

. The material can be gathered from activities such as pruning or clearing, and in traditional forms of woodland management, such as

coppicing Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, which is called a copse, young tree stems are repeated ...

. Its ecological succession can be a beetle bank or

hedge A hedge or hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and sometimes trees, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties. Hedges that are used to separate a road from adjoin ...

Restoration ecology and biological pest control

In coppicing, dead hedges are useful for keeping compartments of a coppice tidy, and keeping the public from certain areas. At the same time, they can provide excellent

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s and corridors for wildlife

habitat conservation Habitat conservation is a management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore habitats and prevent species extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range. It is a priority of many groups that cannot be easily characterized in ter ...

and restoration ecology. They offer habitats for insects such as beetles, and shelter and feeding opportunities for small mammals and birds. Dead hedges can be used to create habitats for natural 'biological control agents' to provide

biological pest control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...

. They have roles in the tending of

natural landscape A natural landscape is the original landscape that exists before it is acted upon by human culture. The natural landscape and the cultural landscape are separate parts of the landscape. However, in the 21st century, landscapes that are totally ...

wildlife gardening Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunte ...

, and

organic gardening Organic horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants by following the essential principles of organic agriculture in soil building and conservation, pest management, and heirloom variety prese ...

Dead hedge in Meephill Copice April 2019 3

Agriculture

Dead hedges can provide enclosures for livestock. They can also play a role in

(for example, in

organic farming Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and re ...

and

sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem ser ...

). Dead hedges provide a carbon-efficient way of recycling

biomass Biomass is plant-based material used as a fuel for heat or electricity production. It can be in the form of wood, wood residues, energy crops, agricultural residues, and waste from industry, farms, and households. Some people use the terms biom ...

, without the need for transport or burning.

Gallery

File:Syke Barrien 0032.JPG , A dead hedge on farmland (at Barrien near Syke, Germany). File:Klövensteen Waldweg mit Benjeshecke 01.jpg , A dead hedge can be seen bordering this forest path in Klövensteen, near Hamburg, Germany. File:Dead hedge Royal Fort Gardens, Bristol.jpg , This dead hedge in Royal Fort Gardens, Bristol (England) is being used as a boundary to a protected wildlife habitat. File:Kingfisher Pool, Myton Fields - geograph.org.uk - 1196614.jpg , The dead hedge alongside this cycleway is protecting a

wildlife pond A pond is an area filled with water, either natural or Artificiality, artificial, that is smaller than a lake. Defining them to be less than in area, less than deep, and with less than 30% Aquatic plant, emergent vegetation helps in disting ...

among the 'Kingfisher Pools' at

St Nicholas' Park, Warwick St. Nicholas' Park, commonly known as ''"St. Nick's"'', is a park is situated in the centre of Warwick, England. Bordering the park to the south is the River Avon. History The area which is now the park was once meadow land, also called St. N ...

, England. File:Benjeshecke_(Illingen)_2020-05-21_(01).jpg , A dead hedge in a private wildlife garden (in Illingen, Saarland, Germany). File:Benjeshecke.jpg , This dead hedge is made from small conifer branches placed around freshly planted saplings (in Hundorf near

Schwerin Schwerin (; Mecklenburgian Low German: ''Swerin''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the capital and second-largest city of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well as of the region of Mecklenburg, after Rostock. ...

, Germany).

References

External links

Agricultural terminology Habitat management equipment and methods Biological pest control Environmental conservation {{Agri-stub

Restoration ecology and biological pest control

Agriculture

Gallery

See also

References

External links