Aspects of hedge management and their effects on hedgerow fauna

Published source details Sotherton N.W., Wratten S.D., Price S.B. & White R.J. (1981) Untersuchungen uber den Zustand von Hecken und seine Auswirkungen auf die Arthropodenfauna. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie, 92, 425-432.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Manage hedgerows to benefit wildlife (e.g. no spray, gap-filling and laying) Action Link

Manage hedgerows to benefit wildlife (e.g. no spray, gap-filling and laying)

A replicated, site comparison study in 1979 on a farm in Hampshire, UK (Sotherton et al. 1981) found that regularly cut and uncut hedges had a lower abundance of caterpillars than patchy, remnant hedges. In regularly cut hedges, the abundance of caterpillars (7 individuals/hedge) was similar to uncut hedges (4 individuals/hedge), and both were lower than in remnant hedges (18 individuals/hedge). Three hedges (primarily containing hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dog rose Rosa canina and blackthorn Prunus spinosa) in each of three management categories were selected. Cut hedges (2.0–2.1 m wide, 1.7–2.2 m high) were regularly managed, and last cut around eight months before sampling. Uncut hedges (2.6–2.9 m wide, 8.0–9.0 m high) had not been cut for >5 years, but remained stock-proof. Remnant hedges (2.5–3.0 m wide, 6.0–7.5 m high) consisted of individual trees and bushes along a field edge. In July 1979, caterpillars were sampled in three locations on each side of each hedge using a beating tray.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)