Studies on the restoration of Welsh Hedges

Published source details Hayes M.J., Jones A.T., Sackville Hamilton N.R., Wildig J. & Buse A. (2001) Studies on the restoration of Welsh Hedges. Pages 339-348 in: C. Barr & S. Petit (eds.) Hedgerows of the World: Their Ecological Functions in Different Landscapes: 10th Annual Conference of the International Association for Landscape Ecology. International Association for Landscape Ecology, Birmingham, UK.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Plant new hedges Action Link
	Plant new hedges Action Link

Plant new hedges

A replicated study in 1996–1999 on semi-upland farmland in mid-Wales, UK (Hayes et al. 2001) found that seven species planted in two hedgerows supported different numbers of arthropods, including moths and butterflies. The number of arthropods (e.g. insects) recorded differed between hedgerow species: common gorse Ulex europaeus (1,007 arthropods), sessile oak Quercus petraea (436), blackthorn Prunus spinosa (381), hawthorn Crataegus monogyna (258), silver birch Betula pendula (180), rowan Sorbus aucuparia (110) and ling heather Calluna vulgaris (53). Sessile oak supported the most diverse group in terms of arthropod orders, with 13 out of 15 orders recorded, two of which were not found on any other plant species. Hawthorn and common gorse were the next most diverse, each with one unique arthropod order. Common gorse, sessile oak, blackthorn and rowan between them had representatives of all 27 families of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and true bugs (Hemiptera) recorded in the study. Planting was undertaken in 1996 within the fenced (2 m wide) margins of two fields. Margins were divided into eight 6-m plots, which were planted with a double row of 30–40 plants of each species, replicated across three blocks. Arthropods were sampled by tree beating at five points/plot in June, August and September 1998–1999.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon, edited from Farmland synopsis)
Plant new hedges

A replicated study in 1998 and 1999 in mid-Wales (Hayes et al. 2001) found that seven species planted in two hedgerows in semi-upland farmland supported significantly different numbers of arthropods: common gorse Ulex europaeus (1007 arthropods), sessile oak Quercus petraea (436), blackthorn Prunus spinosa (381), hawthorn Crataegus monogyna (258), silver birch Betula pendula (180), rowan Sorbus aucuparia (110) and ling heather Calluna vulgaris (53). Sessile oak was the most diverse in terms of arthropod orders, with 13 out of 15 orders recorded, two of which were not found on any other host. Hawthorn and common gorse were the next most diverse, each with one unique arthropod order. Common gorse, sessile oak, blackthorn and rowan between them had representatives of all 27 families of beetles (Coleoptera), true bugs (Hemiptera) and moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) recorded in the study. All planted species had a similar or better growth rate than the commonly planted hawthorn, apart from sessile oak and ling heather. Planting was undertaken in 1996 within the fenced (2 m-wide) margins of two fields. Margins were divided into eight 6 m plots, which were planted with a double row of 30-40 plants of each species, replicated across three blocks. Invertebrates were sampled by tree beating at five points/plot in June, August and September (1998-1999).