Plant a native hedge to attract wildlife

Patience and planning are key to planting a native hedge-the young plants will not look anything much at first – they will be dormant, look twiggy and small but long term results can be stunning

A native hedge sounds an untidy idea to some gardeners, so they go for a hedge of conifers, other evergreens, or even beech which can be kept neatly trimmed. But a native hedge is full of flowers in spring, berries in the autumn, and a variety of foliage that is so interesting. Not only is there always something different to see all through the year, but it will also attract birds, insects and small creatures, so providing a valuable wildlife habitat.

The mixture in a native hedge can consist of both trees and shrubs. Birch, beech, hawthorn, oak, hazel, and dogwoods are ideal. The more diverse your hedge the greater variety of wildlife it will attract, with birds, butterflies, moths and other insects, as well as small mammals and invertebrates that will shelter in the base of the hedgerow.

Choose young plants for a native hedge, known as ‘whips’. They are young bare rooted saplings, usually about a year old, and can be bought in bundles from a local nursery or by mail order. From now on is the best time to buy them, but you have got until early spring if you are not yet ready to plant the hedge. Some companies supply a mixture of hedging whips.

The young plants will not look anything much at first – they will be dormant, look twiggy and small. But you will be pleasantly surprised come the spring when they burst into leaf, and they will soon grow on well to establish themselves into a hedge.

It will have an informal feel as it is made up of a mixture of species, and of trees and shrubs. It will soon make a dense barrier, quite wide across at the top. It will never be like a clipped conifer hedge but it will tolerate pruning to keep in shape.

By choosing yew and holly there will be winter interest; with common beech there will be the contrast of the brown leaves they hold on to until spring. Choose hawthorn so that there will be spring flowers dotted round the hedge and then berries in the autumn – until the birds have them.

As long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, any time from autumn to early spring is ideal for planting. Prepare the site well to give the hedge a good start, removing any weeds and large stones. Dig the area over and fork in some organic matter.

Plant the whips in a staggered double row, about half a metre apart for each young plant. It’s better not to plant too closely or you will cause over-crowding and the plants won’t have enough space to grow away. You can always fill in any gaps later. Water well and add a thick mulch round the plants, which will help keep weeds down.

Feed the hedge every year by topping up the mulch around the roots, and water well in during the first two years, particularly in dry periods even in winter. Prune in autumn, then you won’t disturb any nesting birds and the deciduous trees and shrubs will be dormant. The hedge will take quite hard pruning which will have the effect of making it thicken up.

You will have created a barrier for privacy, against pollution and for wildlife. You will also have made a part of your garden that will be of constant interest.

Try these native trees and shrubs

• hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
• yew (Taxus baccata)
• hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
• bird cherry (Prunus padus)
• beech (Fagus sylvatica)
• hazel (Corylus avellana)
• guelder rose (Vibunum opulus)
• holly (Ilex aquifolium)
• blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
• elder (Sambucus nigra)
• common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
• spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus)
• wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana)