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Homelessness up 40% in rural England since 2018, and 300,000 people waiting for social housing.
28 November 2023
Main image: Agriculture students hedgelaying in Hampshire / CPRE Hampshire
Almost 4,000 volunteers have brought the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Hedgerow Heroes project within touching distance of its target to plant or restore 100 miles of hedgerow to coincide with its centenary in 2026.
In the project’s fifth year, which ran between November 2025 and March 2026, 3,846 people planted a total of 239,683 trees. This represents 33.8 miles of hedgerow planted and restored.
The recent success brings the total amount of hedgerow created or restored by Hedgerow Heroes since 2021 to 99.8 miles. The 100-mile mark will be reached later this year.
Half of the volunteers who took part in the fifth year of Hedgerow Heroes were under 30 years old, and some of the 679 events were specifically aimed at young people.
February’s ‘Hedgentines Day’, for example, was a partnership between Young Wilders and local CPRE groups in Cheshire, Kent and Hampshire. 50 young people attended to learn about hedgerows, how to care for them and how to plant them.
The CPRE groups that took part in the fifth year of Hedgerow Heroes are Avon & Bristol, Cheshire, Cumbria – Lake District, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Sussex and Warwickshire.
‘Hedgerows are an essential element of the landscapes we cherish. They not only define our countryside but also act as remarkable carbon stores and natural corridors for wildlife. For years, we have advocated for the government to set bold targets for expanding our hedgerow network, and with our Hedgerow Heroes initiative, we are putting our words into action.
‘This has been a bumper year, helping us to get closer to our ambitious goal of 100 miles of new and restored hedgerows by the end of our centenary celebrations.’
ROGER MORTLOCK
Chief executive of The Campaign to Protect Rural England
Hedgerows enhance rural landscapes and support sustainable farming through boosting biodiversity and wildlife, reducing noise pollution, preventing soil erosion and reducing runoff.
Hedgerows are under threat, however, from poor management (including incorrect laying and inappropriate cutting) and removal for agriculture or development.
Hedgerow Heroes is a response to the climate emergency and nature crisis, made possible through close collaboration with farmers, landowners and local communities.
Cycling around Shropshire last winter, Tess, 83, volunteered at several Hedgerow Heroes planting events in that county. Sunshine or rain, she was there with passion and enthusiasm.
‘I really enjoy volunteering with CPRE planting hedges’, Tess said. ‘It takes me to lovely places I wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to visit. I meet a great variety of people, the work isn’t difficult and we all soon get the satisfaction of seeing the new hedge in the landscape. ‘Planting hedges is so important because we are creating new, much-needed habitat. This habitat is great for wildlife, provides shade and absorbs water, reducing runoff into local rivers and lakes.’
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