Hedgeways
About The Project
Hedgerows are far more than field boundaries. They are ancient ecological arteries, threading life and connectivity through the countryside.
With their layered structure, long continuity and remarkable biodiversity, hedgerows represent both living history and vital wildlife habitat. The Weald to Waves Healthy Hedgeways project focuses on mapping, restoring and creating hedgerows across the landscape. Working with landowners and partners, the project seeks to strengthen existing hedgerow networks, improve management, and establish new connections where gaps remain.
Through this work, the Hedgeways Project will support species movement, enhance ecosystem resilience and help restore landscape scale connectivity from the High Weald to the Sussex coast. Hedgerows will play a key role in linking habitats, supporting pollinators, birds and mammals, and delivering long term benefits for nature, climate and people.
Project Aims
Increase landscape connectivity by creating new hedgerows and restoring ancient ones, linking habitats across the Weald to Waves corridor.
Engage citizen scientists to survey hedgerows, generating data that informs long-term management and improves habitat quality.
Support landowners to adopt restorative hedgerow management practices, strengthening biodiversity, carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience.
Hedgerow Creation
Over 50% of England’s hedgerows have been lost since the 1950s, from an estimated total of around 1 million km.
Hedgerows act as vital corridors, linking habitats across open areas, allowing species to move, find food, breed, and maintain genetic diversity. Without these connections, habitats become isolated, leaving wildlife populations vulnerable. Hedgerows also provide shelter, nesting sites, and feeding opportunities for a wide range of species.
We are working with our pledged landowners to map historic hedgerow boundaries and create new connections. These restored and newly planted hedgerows will strengthen the Weald to Waves corridor, improve habitat connectivity, and support resilient, thriving ecosystems for the future.
Monitoring Hedgerow Condition
Hedgerows are vital habitats and ecological corridors, supporting wildlife that might not thrive in open landscapes. They also capture and store carbon, prevent soil erosion, and shelter crops from wind damage.
Through a taskforce of citizen scientists, we are surveying hedgerows across the Weald to Waves landscape using the Healthy Hedgerows app from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. The data collected will inform long-term management plans to improve hedgerow condition, enhance connectivity, and support the species that rely on these habitats.
Hedgerow Management & Restoration
Hedgerows naturally change over time, and their condition declines if managed in the same way for too long.
Around 60% of remaining hedgerows are in poor condition, often overgrown, gappy, or poorly structured. This reduces their value for wildlife and limits their ability to store carbon.
Our surveys help landowners develop long-term management plans and identify appropriate funding and grants. This ensures hedgerows remain healthy, connected, and productive for wildlife and the wider landscape.
THE NUMBERS
Latest Stats
Metres of new hedgerow planted
Pledged members surveyed
Metres of dead hedging created
Metres of hedgerow laid
Volunteers
Metres of hedgerow gapped up
Collaborative Effort
The success of this project has been thanks to our amazing partners, who have contributed their expertise and resources to the scheme. Without them, nature recovery on a landscape scale would not be possible.
