Why You Shouldn't Cut Your Hedgerows . . .
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- In this video we look at the importance of hedgerows and why we should be cutting them less often.
Thank you for watching and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and turn ON the notification "bell" to get the latest video updates.
To find out more about how you can help wildlife, what I do to help wildlife and to follow my work, please see the following:
To find a vast array of wildflowers, pond liners, birdfood, habitats and more, please see what we do here:
wildyourgarden...
Wild Your Garden - "Create a sanctuary for nature" - My latest book on how you can help wildlife in your own garden and how to install all the habitats that your local wildlife will need to thrive. Complete how to's and step by step guides. Buy your copy online here:
wildyourgarden...
Hazelwood Landscapes - Where you will find photographs and case studies of some of the projects I have undertaken over the last 16 years and how you can enquire if you would like any advice / help with your own garden:
www.hazelwoodl...
Twitter:
@_joelashton
/ _joelashton
Instagram:
@_joelashton
TikTok:
@_joelashton
For consultations, talks, television enquiries, design workshops, landscaping enquiries, film making and book enquiries, please visit:
www.joelashton...
Finally, please subscribe to the channel to help me raise awareness about the importance of helping wildlife in your own gardens and green spaces and to get notified when I upload the latest videos.
Thank you for watching and if you have any suggestions for future videos, please comment on the video or get in touch via one of the platforms above.
Many thanks,
Joel Ashton
#Hedge #Garden #CountrysideManagement #Hedgerows #Birds #Berries #Autumn #HedgeLaying #Gardening #WildlifeGardening #GardeningForWildlife #WildlifeGarden #JoelAshton #Wild #Nature #WildHedge #Hawthorn #Blackthorn #Sloes #SloeGin #Gin #SloeBerries #HawthornBerries
My neighbour sometimes 'suggests' I cut my hedges back and make it all nice and tidy. The same one now asking for a few blackberries! 🤣
That did make me smile! The irony huh? Thank you for letting these trees/shrubs do what they would want to do naturally :) Best wishes, Joel
Maybe let the neighboor know the birds insects... youve seen in the bushes.
Great video! I imagine all that wildlife benefiting from the hedgerow help the farmer with pest control and a healthy ecosystem for healthy crops.
Absolutely Phil - there is so much life over-wintering that all helps play a part for the following year, pest control, habitat for birds, refuge for many animals and of course that vital blossom for early emerging bees and other insects. Thank you for your support and encouragement, it makes a difference :) Best wishes, Joel
English hedgerows are a national treasure!!
They sure are Connie - I am hoping that more and more people realise this and that they are preserved for our wildlife so desperately in need. Hope you are doing well - best wishes, Joel
I wish flail cutters could be outlawed, not only do they leave ugly looking scars but those scars are a good way for disease to get into the plants. Sloe wine is a fantastic wine. I remember, years ago when all the world was young and banans were two a penny, I was a teacher in a newly built school but in the grounds the developers had left a good length of ancient hedge which we dated, and I've forgotten how we did it, at about 600 years old. What a teaching resource that hedge was, thank goodness someone had the sense not to destroy it. Thanks again
Wonderful to read this William, thank you, some great memories there and I too wish the flail cutters would be outlawed, they're very indiscriminate in their destruction and, aside from that, leave hedging looking awful. Hope you and yours are keeping well, best wishes - Joel
What a fantastic hedgerow you can only imagine how many species of wildlife that hedge sustains. Agree wholeheartedly. We need to support farmers who maintain these hedges and encourage as many as possible to follow suit. All the best Joel.
Maybe give them a kind of certificate? Farmers that keep hedgerows for wildlife?? Wildlife friendly certificate?? You can write on their fb page how much you appreciate their working with wildlife... or something.
Agreed Tracey, supporting and encouraging those farmers that do work with the wildlife is the way to go, I know there are a good proportion of farmers that consider this now and they really are making a difference. Just hope councils etc start feeling the same. Hope you and yours are doing well, sorry I've been so absent and unable to keep up with everyone of late but work has been 6 days/week to keep projects on track. Mind you, over the weekend I sat doggedly editing and starting to upload a pretty epic video that will no doubt be circa 2 hours long, but worth every minute. I guarantee that it will be right up your street! Hoping to get it on the channel by Wednesday this week, so brace yourself! haha - take good care and best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Totally understand Joel. I’d rather you continue supporting wildlife with your amazing work. I know you’ll get back when you can I’d never feel snubbed. 😁 your latest video sound exciting, can’t wait. You take care, all the best.
@@wildlifegardener-tracey6206 Thank you Tracey - everyone being so understanding is one of the reasons that spurs me on and I'm very grateful for that - best wishes, 5.5 hours to go until the video is uploaded! ;)
The local farmer on the edge of the village where I live, slaughters the hedges on the 1st of August.
I'm not a farmer, nor do I know many to be honest, but I cannot fathom why this is necessary so early and not left until February time, giving the hedges a chance to then bud and flower for insects and of course nesting potential for birds. I sure it won't be just in your area and, travelling the country, I suspect I will see miles and miles of this destruction soon :/ Best wishes, Joel
Absolutely spot on Joel. These hedges provide cover and food for so much wildlife, it's almost too numerous to list.
I'm with you on this one. Can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to destroy such a valuable resource for our wildlife
Thank you Mick - sorry I've been so absent of late, I am trying to take half hour or so out a day now to keep up with the comments as I want to acknowledge everyone and their support and encouragement, which I always receive from you :) This hedge just had to be filmed and shared, and shows what can be done, by doing not much at all! Spent most of this weekend editing a pretty epic video which I hope will be uploaded by mid-week, it's going to be around 2 hours long I think but worth every minute, and I can't wait to share it all with you guys. Hope you are well, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton That sounds great Joel and I'll look forward to seeing it 😀👍
Wow - I imagine all this food would possibly help them get through winter... Hedgerows are a fantastic thing the UK has which Australia could well do to copy. Our farmers are appalling land keepers really - everything is often gone.
Hi Alison! We do have many hedgerows for sure, but it's the flailing that destroys all habitat, and such a harsh method that does so much damage - it's not just our farmers but our local councils that do this too. I really hope this video helps spread the word of how important these habitats are, humans never seem to be able to leave anything alone... so many trimmed and cut-back specimens in gardens and yet I am sure these didn't need human intervention hundreds of years ago to work out what was best for the tree/shrub itself. I do hope you and yours are doing well - best wishes, Joel
Agreed
Between us and next door, brambles and ivy had grown covering the fence. I trimmed our side at the bottom of the fence and left the rest. There were always plenty of dunnocks/hedge sparrows and around 15 starlings always came to feed gathering in the growth. Plenty of blackberries and I put in a small wildlife pond. The garden was always alive.
Yesterday, next door got someone in and chopped their side down, our side then fell across the garden taking up nearly half of it (as the ivy and brambles were quite tall) so I had no choice but to majorly trim this back. I am heartbroken - I have not seen the starlings today or the dunnocks or blue tits. I am so upset. I am sure so many birds used this as their homes and now nothing. The garden seems dead now.
That's so sad. Hope you can tie it up somehow on your side or even plant anew in another area.
This is so awful to read, but I can empathise completely I'm afraid. My neighbour is out constantly lopping, pruning and even using scissors to ensure ANY of my plants and trees adjacent to the boundary fence are cut to an exact line of that boundary. He does this the other side too, with that adjacent neighbour, even to the extent of getting a huge ladder out and lopping off branches of a pretty ancient spruce, which now has a completely brown and dead side that won't grow back - this is where I had seen Goldcrests nesting and taking refuge, now I don't see them in the garden. My buddlejas are held up against the fence by rope and other means now to support them as they are heavy one side of course, but I'm determined to keep mine as I want them, he's certainly not dictating what I do in my own property! But this is sad, just as Sister Dogmata points out and I hope some of it was salvageable and agree that planting more will be wise, although what a waste of already good hedging :( I hope some survives for you - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel and Sister. I am going to look at planting some bushes shortly to make good the gaps with the aim of getting them back. Only seen a couple of dunnocks today whereas it would have been 7 or 8. Just the usual doves, Jackdaws and blue tits today. Three long tailed tits though on the feeder which I haven't seen before so that's good.
Ah after a long time see your video how are you bro
Hello there! I am doing well, thank you - I have not been able to be on YT so much during these last few months due to a high workload but I have been filming every habitat creation, pond, creatures while I have been working, so lots more to do :) It is great to hear from you, I hope you and the family are doing well - best wishes, Joel
Our local forest strips and other areas are looking amazing, lots of native hawthorn are producing berries now. I have been snacking on some brambles to😁 I will for sure add honey suckle, dog rose, poison ivy, hop and bramble climbers on my back garden walls. On the front garden wall some bramble and dog rose to. And a hawthorn tree in the back garden. I hope that my hawthorn cutting is doing well (I'm not sure), but as a backup plan I can always dig up a little plantlet with roots from the forest this fall. There are several that have grown from fallen seed. But the soil is very dry and hard to dig right now, so ideal would be if it started raining soon. I have enjoyed the post on Instagram of that wildlife pond a year later, what a piece of heaven to aspire for in my own gardens😱🥰
The birds, butterflies, insects are sending you a BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!
And I'm sending you one Lewis, I really appreciate you leaving such a positive and encouraging comment - welcome to the channel :) Best wishes - Joel
What an amazing winter larder, hopefully this video will help to at least stop some hedgerows from being cut back 🐝🦔
I hope so Mark, this wasn't a planned video at all but during the consultation I couldn't help but notice it and just had to stay on a bit longer so I could share it with everyone - so glad I did. Hope you're well, best wishes - Joel
Lovely video Joel. The dogwood on the side of my front garden was full of berries and within a blink of an eye it was all eaten and in the spring it was full of bees.
Hey George - thank you. Dogwood is a fantastic specimen and the one in your garden proves how vital these are for pollen and autumn fodder. I'm trying to take half hour each day now to catch up with everyone's comments so that I can ensure they are acknowledged - up in Derbyshire for 3 weeks on a very large project now, another video to share with you all. I've spent the weekend editing and finalising a particularly long video to share with you all mid-week hopefully, it is worth every minute though and although it might take a few sittings to watch (!) I know it will be appreciated by many and another video for those shorter evenings come late autumn/winter :) Best wishes, as always - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yes definitely a worthwhile vital tree Joel.
Good luck up in Derbyshire, hope all is well for you up there.
Can’t wait for the upcoming video Joel. The longer the better as I’ll get the popcorn’s out 😉
Take care and thank you for the kind reply 😊
Tell this to Redrow South Midlands about their spree of hedge destruction at Sawston in Cambridgeshire....
Hi there, I've been seeing this a lot on social media recently - the same Redrow that partnered with the Wildlife Trusts a few years ago - see this document here:
www.redrowplc.co.uk/media/alibatd1/redrow-wildlife-trust-pdf-brochure-updated-140322.pdf
I'm yet to see what the Wildlife Trusts have to say about this latest destruction of nature, which opposes completely to what they "say" in that document link above.
I'm keeping my eye on social media... Thank you for pointing this out so others are aware too. Best wishes, Joel
Hello Joel! I've been a subscriber for quite a while, and as a non-native English speaker, I find it difficult at times to understand the names of the plants you're talking about just by hearing you say it out loud. If it's not too much of a hassle, would it be possible to have the names of the plants you're talking about pop up on the screen (in writing) at the same time that they're talked about? Or maybe have all the names in the description? Perhaps they are already somewhere and I just haven't noticed, in that case could you point me to the information? This would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time spent on making these videos available for all of us!
Hi Leo! Of course - I must remember to do this, I usually write the plant name (including latin) on a lot of the videos but I didn't with this one - it has all been rather a rush lately. For this video I mention the following hedge plants:
Bramble - Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry)
Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna
Blackthorn - Prunus spinosa (with the Sloe Berries)
Dogwood - Cornus
Hazel - Corylus (Hazelnuts)
Elderberry - Sambucus
I hope that, with the use of google, you are able to find out more and identify each one :)
My apologies again - and thank you so much for your kind words and support - what country are you living in? 🙂 Best wishes, Joel
You are spot on. I one side of my yard, has lobblolly pines all the way down, I used to mow around all of them, it's filled in over the years. I'm happy the birds have plenty of places to choose.
Thank you Wende. And thank you for reiterating how doing a little can help a lot :) Hope you're doing well - epic video being uploaded this Wednesday, it's taken me all weekend to upload and get ready for uploading, I do hope you enjoy it - you'll need to get comfortable before you start! ;) Best wishes, as always - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton
The get comfortable, are the best ones. Look forward to watching.
I detest the flail. The damage they do to the plants themselves - quite apart from cutting off the berries. It makes me cringe to see shredded bark and mashed twigs, especially at this time of the year.
I am growing hedgerows all around my garden, but I'm especially enthusiastic about the one which runs along the top of my garden, which I planted at about a metre from the neighbouring farm field fence.
As far as I am concerned, it can encroach on the fence as much as it likes - and the hawthorn, sloes, gorse, dog rose and a couple of non-native nectar shrubs do just that.
However, I do maintain a certain amount of control on 'my' side of the hedge, because I've planted a second hedgerow about 7 feet away and running parallel to it, this to mimic a 'bridleway' passing in between.
(The grass is allowed to grow along this 'bridleway' - no horses by the way - and this year, some Sweep moths appeared along there for the first time. My neighbour, a forester, said that bridleways are often overlooked as very important wildlife areas).
So, I do maintain that gap between the 2 hedgerows, but I only do so with secateurs and a pair of loppers (yep, it is a lot of work), and I most certainly don't prune off anything that's either fruiting or flowering. I wait until all that's done and eaten.
Also, I don't keep the top of the hedgerow strictly to a certain height, I let some grow into little trees, some are kept at a manageable height. Got to let the deer get in and out somewhere.
I absolutely love your comments Debbie - so good to hear from you and apologies for the delay in responding. You always have such wisdom and great advice, so glad you're with us in this wonderful community here. Best wishes, Joel
100%!!!
Hello Joel, much to my surprise, a spokesperson for Teagasc, the semi-state that is the Irish farmers’ advisory service more or less advised farmers to do what you suggest. Less cutting not more. I won’t hold my breath! We have some hedgerow road frontage which I prune and trim. Ivy, I leave till late February as the berries are still on the bushes.
Neil
Hey Neil - after a hard day this is so refreshing to read! I really hope too that this is taken onboard and sets an example to others that it can work. Well done too on leaving that ivy, so important in the Spring for the Holly Blue butterfly and you might find Brimstone butterflies over-wintering too so keep an eye out :) Thanks again for this - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel, some Holly Blues here in Spring, no Brimstones they're mainly found in the west of the country. One butterfly present here now that ten years ago would have had me running for my camera is the Comma. They are frequent now so who knows what will turn up next. The Great-Spotted Woodpecker has finally arrived in the garden, they made landfall from Wales in the late 90's I think and have been spreading westward. Also a pair of Hen Harriers around for the last couple of months. Last seen here by us in 2002 and prior to that in 1991. And almost forgot, I saw my first Red Kite, they were a planned reintroduction to the country.
Единственное , что спасет и улучшит человечество и планету -
ruclips.net/user/TheVenusProjectRUS
Все остальное за тысячелетия доказала , что не работает или в лучшем случае временные полумеры .
Наши мысли , слова , зрение , слух , действия , бездействия , книги , фильмы , СМИ , ТВ , интернэт , знания , ответственность , планы , цели , мечты , среда , экология , любовь - все куда то ведет , к плохому или хорошему .
Давайте изучать , распространять , помогать и воплощать этот самый лучший проект на земле и избавиться от варварства и ада и создать цивилизацию и рай .
Все зависит в большей степени от нас , а не от президентов , корпораций , денег , кучки богатеев мира и кого бы то не было еще .
Давайте объединяться пока есть небольшой шанс в этой хрупкой
What a better world it would be Joel if hedgerows could just be let be or managed a tad more sympathetically or a combination of the two. As I travel around the lanes of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Powys on a regular basis I see the good, the bad and the downright ugly when it comes to hedgerow management, hedgerows that connect habitats that act as wildlife highways. Fragmentation, lack of connectivity and isolation of habitats from each other whether it be due to new roads, removal of hedgerows, bad management etc, etc is a real bugbear of mine. Timing and a little bit of consideration of course is everything. The fields that surround Trailcam Wood here have been ploughed to within an inch of their lives and planted with a potato crop that will soon be harvested. I have chatted to the tractor drivers and asked why they are ploughing pretty much in to the shrub layer of the wood then the regularity of spraying and the encroachment of the spray on to the wood margin on to the blackberries, rose hips etc and in to the wood but you get a shrug of the shoulders and a "that's what we've been told to do". Makes my blood boil. Another great thought provoking video Joel that resonates strongly. Paul 👍😊
So wonderfully put Paul, as ever. So sorry to hear about Trailcam Wood and the "it's my job" attitude - keep up the good work on your channel as it's a great way to educate people, not only on the important skills you show but also the wildlife that is ultimately affected. I hope you're having a good weekend - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton
Thank you Joel. Wishing you a good rest of the weekend also 👍😊
Great video thanks. Less is definitely more here!
Thanks Alan, so much. Sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, have been away on large projects and just trying to catch up with everyone. But your kind words really make a difference after a long hard day! Best wishes, Joel
I agree with you completely. Whilst the situation here in Australia is quite different, we do have Blackberry, Hawthorn, wild rose etc, all of which are declared noxious weeds and thus require removal. I understand the concern with spread and accept the need to manage these plants but, as you say, one needs to balance these risks against the fact that they are truly wonderful, protective habitat and food source for so many birds and insects and also small and larger mammals. They are ground cover and prevent soil loss and erosion. They look beautiful. And, certainly in small scale farms like ours, with a bit of time and energy they can be managed (not eliminated) without the use of chemicals. So this is among the many reasons that smallholdings make good sense. Thanks for this video.
Thanks for this Richard, very wise words and I'm really grateful for your comment. Glad you enjoyed this video, welcome to the channel, we have a great little community here from all over the world :) I hope you are having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
Maybe put up signs what birds you see in the hedges near you. So local land owners know the community cares. or a website where in your community the farmers are wildlife conscious.. Make signs for all kinds of valuable plants. Another idea someone can start issueing certificates to hedgerow wildlife friendly businesses. Local education or lectures trips to hedge rows with wildlife and botany explainations.
What a fantastic idea Connie, something needs to be done for sure, I hope this video encourages others to relay the importance of this habitat for so many creatures. Hope you are well, best wishes - Joel
Oh, I like that idea. We get a few ramblers, cyclists and dog-walkers visit our area, and that would be a nice to show them what lives around and about.
When I next see the local laird, I'll suggest it - he's a keen rewilder, so I expect he'll consider it.
Absolute right joel couldn’t agree more great video 🐸💚🐸
Thank you - it was so brilliant to see this intact hedge and to highlight the difference between this and the many many others we see so brutality treated in comparison.
Hey Joel, very informative as usual. That hedgerow was amazing, so full of fruit and berries. Sadly the farmer here has already been and threshed all down the lane and it looks awful! Such a waste. He's a grumpy so and so at the best of times so might not have a word in his ear! To be fair he has left the divisional hedges alone so hopefully it will make up for the wanton destruction he's caused! Leaving things alone, letting them go wild is sooooo beneficial. I'm looking after an elephant hawkmoth cocoon at the min. Not sure how long they take to hatch? Hope you had a bit of r and r over the weekend. Best wishes.
Having found Elephant hawk moths in my garden before, and fed and kept them it can be as late as June before the moths hatch.
@@Ulyoth Thank you! Will it stay like this until next year now then?
@@SisterDogmata yup, if it’s pupated successfully it should still move slightly when touched and will stay like that for a long time.
@@Ulyoth Thank you so much! I've been checking it regularly and it moves when I handle it. Like a jerk motion. It's in a glass terrarium on soil with no lid. I cant wait to see it emerge but guess I'll have to wait longer than I thought.
@@SisterDogmata I’d just provide it with a small stick or something like climb on to. When it emerges it’s going to want to dry and stretch its wings. It will be worth it they are beautiful moths.
I absolutely adore hedgerows, we have planted a native mixed hedgerow along the back line of our garden, which is getting towards its 1st birthday of growth....question, how close to the ground do I cut it back to ensure more bushy and vigorous growth ?
Hi there! So good to hear there's another native hedgerow out there now :) It's beneficial to cut on a rotation, as per this video but if you wanted to cut in the first year then I'd recommend cutting down to approx 6 inches (150mm) - here's a video on coppicing which should give some more helpful information:
ruclips.net/video/-Y_cHpMYoPE/видео.html
Best wishes - Joel
So many hedgerows were ripped out of our countryside to the benefit of the agribusiness. A disgrace. We have left our ivy and hope to plant hawthorn and the like in our garde.
Hi Liam - sorry for the delay in responding, am just taking 5 mins to try to catch up with everyone. Agree totally, and am so glad that you're leaving the ivy and planting a hawthorn, you will be rewarded with very grateful wildlife! Best wishes, and thank you - Joel
And then there is also carbon farming, which gives the farmers credits for anything that captures carbon. A hedgerow is perfect for this purpose since 1 km of hedgerow captures as much carbon as five trees every year
Thanks Frank! Interesting, and some great points, appreciated :) Best wishes - Joel
Brilliant video Joel, if more can be done then why not? 🤷🏻♂️ I think the government should help convince farmers this is a good idea and in some way entice them to do so as it will benefit so much if our native wildlife and visitors over the cold months.
Community people can start a local hedgerow day festival, teaching about, visiting hedgerows, with movies lectures activities for the whole family. I know a city with a yearly bee festival in the usa. A great way to teach about native bugs plants, interdependance...
Research farms in your region and publicise those that are wildlife friendly. A local gardening community could. Or a scout group? You could just post a gratitude post on their fb page, with an explaination why what they do helps wildlife. I said you but its a task for a group.
Thank you - you're absolutely right as always. I must say that I am aware of more and more farmers that are working with nature and doing their bit, including sparing the edges of fields for nature to thrive and of course hedgerows too, but then we have councils and the highways agencies undertaking flailing. I am interviewing one such farmer next year when I know his land will look at it's very best and be better to show how things can work. I've done a short interview with him already but we plan to get together again next year when he can showcase everything that has been achieved and of course I'll be uploading that :) Hope you're keeping well - look out for a pretty epic video mid-week, it's taken me all weekend to edit and get ready for uploading! Take good care, best wishes as always - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton sounds brilliant Joel and I definitely will be watching the next video 😊 keep up the good work mate 👍🏻💪🏻
I know they have to be cut back, so by all means cut them back but they don't do that. They absolutely massacre them.
I see this so often Pat when I'm travelling the country at this time of year, on most occasions they really are smashed to bits, by councils and highways too - best wishes, Joel
I would suggest that it's not practical to simply not cut hedgerows. There would surely be too many issues with regard to height and encroachment into field margins. What I would like to see, however, is the sympathetic flailing of hedges, whereby the hedge is allowed to gradually increase in height each year. There seems to be an obsession, certainly where I live, in cutting hedges back to exactly the same height, which consequently stunts their ability to flower and fruit the following year and is not good for the health of the trees and shrubs within the hedge.
Couldn’t agree more Joel. If a hedge needs work why can’t they just trim it instead of flailing it to the ground, also why flail hedges that are between fields ! If a cutters on a flail mower are blunt they just smash the stems instead of cutting them, eventually it then starts to die from the base, no one bothers to get them re sharpened. Laying the hedge is the best way but to expensive to carry out these days!
Well put Colin, I have seen way too many hedges destroyed in this indiscriminate and damaging way and the resulting death of many a hedgerow. Best wishes - Joel
Flails cut back the hedges along the roads where I live, and yes they make a horrible mess everywhere. However, roads my way are particularly windy, single track (some only a small vehicle single track size), quite dangerous with regard to visibility, and we appear to have a disproportionate share of stupid drivers that bomb along like they own the road. So the hedges are cut back mercilessly each year to give other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists a decent chance of seeing them approach (our ditches were littered with pieces of cars until regular flailing recommenced).
My neighbour took out the entire hedge along our boundary. So upsetting!
There's one mammal in particular that these hedgerows are so vital too & the giveaway is in the name, hedgehogs! where I go for my walk I hate seeing the hedges cut back each year.
You’ve persuaded me 👍🏻
Please tell my local governement ... .
Again got some wonderful inspiration!
Since I am not allowed to plant in the soil I will be trying it in wooden containers on my balconyterras (I sound like Patricia Routhledge in Keeping up Appearances, "yes, room for a pony .. "). Well, no, but I want to divide the terras in two: 2/3 for me and my lazy butt, and 1/3 just for watersalvaging and wildlifeplants/shrubs. Any tips? They will have to be able to endure feisty winds in autumm and winter, and heat in summer (south - southwest, part shade). The containers will be 80 cm high, 40 to 50 cm in depth and around 50 to 60 cm in width. I do not want to plant several thorny shrubs in one container in case one of them dies or needs to be relocated. One learns the hard way ... .
How are you, busy Frenchie 😉?
Hey Esther! Time for me to apologise again for not being able to keep up with everyone - still on that huge project in Derbyshire and then I'm off somewhere more exotic, will be updating the viewers about that shortly :) Can you send an email to me at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com with your question and I'll be able to help in better detail :) Hope you get to see this reply - best wishes - Joel
Well said, Joel!
Thank you Mark, so much :) Best wishes, as always - Joel
❤️ the video, Joel. I’ve not went a 🚶🏼♂️ where I got a good helping of brambles to eat along with hubby. I’m hoping that I’ll get to that place soon. Lately so busy with 🏥 appointments so you’ve got to keep away from people before you go. Hope you & family are well. Have a nice week. 😊
What about ninnativea
I'm renovating my completely overgrown garden. I want to create a wildlife garden. At the moment I have privet hedges (the front garden is about 100ft long). It's not the best hedging for wildlife, is it. I was thinking of replacing it with native gorse. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is excellent, its leaves, flowers and fruits are important resources for wildlife. Exotic privets are liked less.
Still, having a variety of plants is always preferrable. If there are gaps in your hedge or plants that you want to remove adding gorse, hawthorn, holly, spindle and other native shrubs will significantly improve it.
@@nautilus2612 Thanks. Maybe I'll leave privet in some areas and place other shrubs in-between.
Wonderful!
Thank you Rosa :) Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks, best wishes!
How do you feel about old fashioned laid hedges?
Hi there - I love to see the old-fashioned laid hedges, my good friend "Paul Outdoors" has undertaken many and features these on his YT channel, along with fantastic wildlife camera imagery. I think they are great because when they rejuvinate they provide excellent dense habitat for nesting birds and can eventually still mature sizing like the ones in the video :) Best wishes - Joel
Great and informative video!
Thank you so much - sorry I've not been so active on YT of late but it's the busiest time of year for work and we've been working 6 days a week to keep projects on track - trying to catch up with everyone when I can, so many videos to upload still :) Hope you and the garden are doing well - best wishes, Joel
Listening to one of Monty Don's audiobooks, he says they should be cut back in November, think that is a more practical common ground to campaign for. Meet halfway and compromise.
Thanks John, I'm all about compromise, sometimes it's the best way to proceed. After all, Monty has only recently been onboard with the concept of gardening for wildlife and I'm really glad about that, although I'd still say February is the best time or at least when the berries have been depleted by hungry birds :) Best wishes - Joel
Trouble is berries form only on wood that is more than one year old . So it does not matter WHICH month you cut your hedge in . If you cut it every year you will never get any berries . Simple fact but few seem able to grasp it . The hedge in this vid has. Or been cut for years