CPRE Hedgerow Heroes project
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We are delighted to have secured a grant to continue our Hedgerow Heroes project for a third year - until May 2024.
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This website will be updated with some exciting training opportunities and information about how to get involved over the next few weeks and months.
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Please sign up for our mailing list on this page to get updated information and early offers for events and training.
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See below for what's on offer in 2023/24.
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See below for what's on offer in 2023/24
Hedge Creation
Why not volunteer to help us plant new hedgerows in South Shropshire this Autumn/Winter!
Hedge walks & creative workshops
Take part in a mindful, creative workshop here
Project slideshow
Watch our 2 minute hedgerow project slideshow here!
Hedge-laying workshops
Learn traditional hedge-laying with an expert tutor. Sign up here!
Hedge talks
Listen and watch previous online talks we have hosted on hedgerows
Hedgerow project videos
Check out the videos we made of the project last year here
Coppice management workshop
Sign up to learn the basics of coppice management
Hedgerow management workshops
Join one of two workshops this autumn led by Nigel Adams
Hedgerow project leaflet
Download our hedge project leaflet here
Why a hedgerow project and what will it deliver?
CPRE Shropshire is taking part in a national CPRE Hedgerow Heroes project and will be tackling some 'boots on the ground' practical work as well as organising walks and talks on the subject of our wonderful hedgerows! We are now in Phase 2 (2022/23) of our project,Phase 1 having been delivered in 2021/22.
Why are we doing this?
As elsewhere in the UK, and as evidenced by a glance at George Foxall’s Field Name maps (based on the Shropshire tithe maps of 1847), there have been huge losses of our hedgerows over the last century as well as a decline in overall sensitive management.
Along the county’s roads and lanes, and in conjunction with verges, hedges are essentially a ‘woodland edge’ habitat with all the potential ecological benefits that brings – they are really important wildlife corridors as well as having the capacity to store carbon, help prevent flooding and erosion, providing shelter and windbreaks.
What are the aims of Phase 2?
We aim in Phase 2 to:
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Create 3km of new hedgerow creation on selected sites (the planting will be done by volunteers) in the autumn/winter of 2022/23 (More here) - NB the 3km was upgraded to 5.5km in September 2022
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Run at least 7 free hedge-laying workshops for beginners, teaching the basics of the art/craft of hedgelaying including tool maintenance. Please sign up to our waiting list for the workshops if you are interested in taking part.
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Run walks, talks and workshops on all matters relating to hedgerows including hedgerow management, coppicing and field names
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Work with 16 Shropshire primary schools delivering hedgerow lessons to children and produce Story Sacks for young children to be lent out by libraries
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