AGM and Talk on Hedgrows Heros

Tuesday 8th at 7.15pm in the Methodist Church, Watling Street South

CPRE Shropshire’s hedgerow project is now in its fourth year and since the winter of 2021 has planted 18km of new, native, mixed species hedgerow in the Shropshire countryside with the help of volunteers. One of those volunteers, Jon Kean, plays a key part in the project as hedge creation lead, and is involved in doing site assessments. Jon will be sharing his knowledge about the project and trees at our meeting. His talk will cover how to care for hedgerows to benefit wildlife and some of the possible uses of excess growth, including low technology methods of making biochar to use as a soil enricher. Jon runs a permaculture forest garden at Tankerville, has propagated native trees and planted a small wood. He has an extensive knowledge of fruiting trees and has a MSc in Habitat Management & Creation.

As well as hedgerow creation the project has run hedgelaying training, coppice management workshops, field names walks and talks, hedge walks/talks, hedgerow management and hedge surveying workshops, arts activities and provided hedgerow kitbags for schools and hedge lessons for primary schools in the Shropshire Hills. They have created short films including (this year) “The Hedgelayer” which has had over 64K views on You Tube – following a day in the life of a South Shropshire hedgelayer.

Hedges are planted on a variety of sites, from working farms (livestock and arable) and smallholdings to community land, playing fields and churchyards. Hedge whips are sourced locally from Bucknell Nurseries and they aim to plant hedgerow trees amongst the hedgerows. Hedge mixes are normally based around hawthorn and hazel to suit local conditions. Planting takes place between December and early March and there is always a need for volunteers.

Hedgelaying training and coppice management workshops will be available this year, as well as biochar production sessions and arts workshops. You can sign up for the Hedge Bulletin for updates and news: https://www.cpreshropshire.org.uk/hedgerow-project

Come and join us to learn more about this fascinating project and all about trees and hedgerows. You can join the Tree Group on the night. See our website: http://www.churchstrettontreegroup.co.uk