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Hedgerows

Two children looking at and touching a hedgerow

Abigail Oliver

Norfolk’s hedgerows offer a valuable habitat for wildlife, amongst many other benefits, and we’re working to protect them and create more.

Hedgerows are the vital stitching in the patchwork of our countryside. Not only are they beautiful, with shifting seasonal colours, but they also provide homes and corridors for wildlife and benefit the wider environment. And all the while they help tackle the climate crisis by capturing carbon.

We’d like to see more hedgerows planted and restored, and are campaigning in support of the Climate Change Committee’s call for a 40% increase in the extent of hedgerows by 2050 to help tackle the climate emergency.

National and local CPRE staff head towards Defra

Our hedgerows campaign is calling for #40by50. But what does this mean?

The government loves talking about tree planting and peatland restoration, but it seems to have forgotten our hedgerows. We’re campaigning for them to commit to a target for planting and restoring thousands of miles of hedgerows across the country.

‘We need a 40% increase by 2050 at the latest.’

40: We want to see the hedgerow network increase by 40%. This number was recommended by the independent Climate Change Committee and is equivalent to about 120,000 miles in Britain – half way to the moon!

50: This is the time frame. We need a 40% increase by 2050 at the latest. This requires adding over 4,000 miles of new and restored hedgerows per year, starting now.

A girl picking berries from an overgrown hedgerow

At CPRE Norfolk, we care a lot about hedgerows. But what actually is a hedgerow? What is their history and why are we so passionate about them?

Hedgerows are important because they bring so many benefits – and they’re under threat.

We think hedgerows are especially vital for three main reasons: the climate crisis, nature and our landscapes.

Read this insider’s guide to find out everything you need to know about hedgerows and what you can do to support our hedgerows campaign. Investment in our hedgerows offers a low-risk, manageable and cost-effective way to tackle climate change, boost biodiversity and enhance our landscapes.

Share our passion for hedgerows and want to support our goal? Every CPRE Norfolk member’s contributions – from as little as £3 per month – help us to keep pushing the government to do better. Be a part of our hedgerow crew now!