Eight more restoration projects as Hedgerow Heroes enters phase four

Our Hedgerow Heroes project has now entered its fourth year with eight local CPREs taking part in the 2024-25 season. The project will see local communities coming together to plant and rejuvenate hedgerows in Avon and Bristol, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire.

Working with partners, experts, community groups, landowners, farmers and wildlife lovers, this project will see local CPREs connecting people to the countryside in a meaningful and engaging way. This season will enable people to learn the traditional rural skill of hedgelaying, understand what makes a good hedgerow, teach school children about their value and give the natural landscapes in our countryside a boost.

To date, Hedgerow Heroes has seen 47 miles of hedgerow rejuvenated and created. The project has inspired individuals and given a greater understanding of their importance to the environment and wildlife. We are excited to start phase four which will run from July this year until April next year. Read on for a snapshot of each project.

CPRE Avon and Bristol

Over the past couple of years, CPRE Avon & Bristol have built significant momentum among their supporters and local communities, giving skills to local people to manage hedgerows independently. The group are keen to plant and restore 10,000 metres of hedgerow by 2026, which is 100 metres for each of the 100 years that CPRE has been caring for the countryside.

The group has been working with partners to plant, manage and restore hedgerows on sites identified as being of strategic importance to nature recovery in the West of England Nature Strategy. This season, they are aiming to plant and restore 3000 metres of hedgerow on sites located in Green Belt, National Landscapes and destination parks in peri-urban areas offering city residents the chance to interact with nature in their countryside next door.

CPRE Bedfordshire

CPRE Bedfordshire are new to Hedgerow Heroes and, having been inspired to start their own project having seen what other groups have achieved. Starting with a goal to plant 1000 metres of hedgerow this season, they aim to build on this to deliver a multi-year programme working with local communities to inspire them to cherish and care for their hedgerows.

All of the planting sites are accessible to local communities and the project will seek to broaden awareness of the importance of hedgerows and provide opportunities for people to connect with the landscape to enhance their knowledge and improve their wellbeing. They are keen to involve young people in their activities and will be engaging with local schools and youth groups.

CPRE Gloucestershire

CPRE Gloucestershire have built strong relationships with local landowners, councils, environmental organisations, community groups and schools, which they’re keen to grow this season. They will be planting and restoring over 2000 metres of hedgerow across rural Gloucestershire using a mix of native species to improve insect and wildlife diversity in the area. The project will offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities on both planting and restoration activities, as well as providing rural skills training.

The group is engaging with schools to offer sessions as part of an alternative provision for children who find classroom learning challenging. They’ve found that many young people thrive in environments outside of school and Hedgerow Heroes gives them the chance to try hedgelaying and planting out in the fresh air. Their passion for sharing rural skills with young people will introduce them to career opportunities that they may not have been aware of and help deepen their relationship with their local countryside.

CPRE Hampshire

CPRE Hampshire are continuing to take part in Hedgerow Heroes as part of their wider Hampshire Hedge project. The Hampshire Hedge will connect the South Downs and New Forest National Parks with a 14-mile-long network of hedgerows. The project hosts multiple partners and they hope to complete it in time to mark CPRE’s centenary in 2026. This season will see over 2000 metres planted and restored in the Hedgerow Heroes project with the work being carried out by volunteers, community groups, schools and landowners.

Volunteers have already been out surveying suitable sites along the route which will guide this season’s work. They are continuing their success in engaging ecology and agricultural students in the project as part of their studies. Experts will also be brought in to host walks, talks and training on hedgerow-related subjects.

CPRE Herefordshire

CPRE Herefordshire are another new addition to Hedgerow Heroes this year. Having delivered a hugely successful citizen science project on river water quality, they have built a network of partners and volunteers who are keen to support hedgerow planting and restoration. The group plans to connect with local schools, deliver a range of educational talks to local communities and offer beginners’ courses in hedge maintenance, surveying, and ecology.

The group’s focus is on areas which show demand for hedgerows as buffer strips for natural flood management and soil retention and they are keen to highlight the impact of engaging with the countryside on individual wellbeing. This season will see 2500 metres of hedgerow planted and restored.

CPRE Oxfordshire

CPRE Oxfordshire are actively involved in their Local Nature Recovery Network and have taken a strategic approach in selecting their hedgerow sites. The group is working in partnership with Wild Oxfordshire bringing specialist environmental support and community engagement. Planting and restoration will be in key Conservation Target Areas where the greatest gains can be made from habitat enhancement, restoration and creation. They are keen to highlight the wider mental and physical health benefits of outdoor learning in nature. Their target this season is to plant and restore 2700 metres of hedgerow across the county.

CPRE Shropshire

CPRE Shropshire have built an impressive support network of partners, landowners, local organisations and volunteers which they’re keen to expand on in phase four. The project engages with a wide range of local experts who will be sharing their heritage rural skills, creativity and knowledge with volunteers and supporters. There will be something for everyone with hedgelaying and coppicing workshops, planting days and hedgerow-related art and creativity sessions. There is a focus on connecting people to the local landscape and protecting and enhancing native habitats. This season will see 4000 metres of hedgerow planted and restored in the county.

CPRE Warwickshire

CPRE Warwickshire are another group new to Hedgerow Heroes this year. With the support of local specialists, they are engaging farmers, parish councils and supporters to plant and restore 1000 metres of hedgerow. Alongside partners in education, they will use the project as an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience in practical hedgerow management and heritage rural skills.

The group have taken a keen interest in the health and wellbeing aspect of participating in outdoor activities and will be offering opportunities for local groups, schools and volunteers to join in on planting and hedgelaying days.