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Hedgelands: A Wild Wander Around Britain’s Greatest Habitat
On this joyous journey around the wild edges of Britain, celebrated author Christopher Hart takes us through the life, ecology and history of the humble countryside hedge and how it is inextricably woven into our language, landscape and culture.
Hedges – or hedgerows – have long been an integral part of the British landscape. An ancient, human-made boundary, hedgerows have become a critically important haven for wildlife and are now being recognised as one of the greatest ‘edge’ habitats on Earth.
Britain boasts 400,000 kilometres of hedgerows, but has lost 50 per cent of them since the Second World War and their slow deterioration today is becoming a huge threat to the ecosystem.
In Hedgelands, Christopher Hart shares the history of the hedge, highlighting the hawthorn and hazel of ancient hedgerows, and reveals its abundance of wildlife, from the elusive dunnock to the iconic nightingale, the industrious hedgehog to the miniscule harvest mouse.
He demonstrates how this true environmental hero and powerful climate ally can help rebuild species-rich, resilient havens for birds, mammals and insects. Hedges play a vital role in mature woodland, grassland and even wetland, all of which can offer us much-needed ecological diversity and carbon sequestration.
Through rewilding a patch of land in southwest England, Christopher shows us how easy, joyful and rewarding it is to restore even the smallest stretch of hedge. Whether you live in the country or the city, Hedgelands shares how simple actions can make a huge difference to the future of our precious hedges – and environment.
Hedges – or hedgerows – have long been an integral part of the British landscape. An ancient, human-made boundary, hedgerows have become a critically important haven for wildlife and are now being recognised as one of the greatest ‘edge’ habitats on Earth.
Britain boasts 400,000 kilometres of hedgerows, but has lost 50 per cent of them since the Second World War and their slow deterioration today is becoming a huge threat to the ecosystem.
In Hedgelands, Christopher Hart shares the history of the hedge, highlighting the hawthorn and hazel of ancient hedgerows, and reveals its abundance of wildlife, from the elusive dunnock to the iconic nightingale, the industrious hedgehog to the miniscule harvest mouse.
He demonstrates how this true environmental hero and powerful climate ally can help rebuild species-rich, resilient havens for birds, mammals and insects. Hedges play a vital role in mature woodland, grassland and even wetland, all of which can offer us much-needed ecological diversity and carbon sequestration.
Through rewilding a patch of land in southwest England, Christopher shows us how easy, joyful and rewarding it is to restore even the smallest stretch of hedge. Whether you live in the country or the city, Hedgelands shares how simple actions can make a huge difference to the future of our precious hedges – and environment.
208 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2024
11 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Hart
6 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Christopher Hart
AKA William Napier.
Christopher Hart (born 1965) is an English novelist and journalist.
He was educated at Cheltenham College (expelled), Leicester University (dropped out), Oxford Polytechnic and Birkbeck College, London, where he completed a PhD on W.B.Yeats.
Under his original name he has written two contemporary novels, The Harvest and Rescue Me. Since 2001, he has written four historical novels under the pseudonym of William Napier, the last three a best-selling trilogy about Attila the Hun and the Fall of the Roman Empire.
As a journalist he has worked as Literary Editor of the Erotic Review (magazine folded) and Agony Aunt for Time Out (sacked.) He currently writes regularly for the Sunday Times, where he is lead theatre critic, and the Daily Mail.
Please see: Christopher Hart
AKA William Napier.
Christopher Hart (born 1965) is an English novelist and journalist.
He was educated at Cheltenham College (expelled), Leicester University (dropped out), Oxford Polytechnic and Birkbeck College, London, where he completed a PhD on W.B.Yeats.
Under his original name he has written two contemporary novels, The Harvest and Rescue Me. Since 2001, he has written four historical novels under the pseudonym of William Napier, the last three a best-selling trilogy about Attila the Hun and the Fall of the Roman Empire.
As a journalist he has worked as Literary Editor of the Erotic Review (magazine folded) and Agony Aunt for Time Out (sacked.) He currently writes regularly for the Sunday Times, where he is lead theatre critic, and the Daily Mail.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 17, 2025
After years of grubbing out hedges to make enormous fields for the huge tractors and other farm machinery, it is dawning on people that hedges are the lifeblood of the countryside. The irony is that a man from 2000 years ago could have told them this…
In some parts of the country, the hedge lines can be traced back as far as the Bronze Age and references to hedges are found scattered among lots of documents. Even though these hedges have been around a long time, following the wholesale theft of common land from the people by the aristocracy and the rich, lots more hedges were planted to enclose this land.
It is the underlying geology of the landscape that defines the plants that grow in the hedges in various parts of the country. Some areas are strong on holly, others have hawthorn, and wetter areas of the country you’ll find blackthorn. Because hedges have been part of the fabric of the country for so long, strange tales have permeated from these linear lines into folklore.
Replacing a hedge with a fence is just stupid. A fence absorbs no CO2, it cannot provide oxygen, shelter for stock, doesn’t provide nuts and berries or act as a windbreak and absorb rain. If treated to stop it from rotting, it will pollute the ground with all manner of toxins and will need replacing on a regular basis. A well-maintained and laid hedge can last indefinitely.
There was a formula for dating a hedge: Number of species per 30 yards x 110. It gives a reasonable guideline, but has been largely discredited now. The most accurate way is to look at old maps and trace the field lines and to go out into the landscape to see it for yourself. A survey of the hedges at Underhill Nature Reserve found eight species of trees and shrubs and an astounding 29 other species, five of which are seen as indicators of ancient woodland.
An ideal hedge will contain blackthorn and hawthorn (sometimes known as the Queen of trees), and whatever takes your fancy can be added to the mix. Hart even suggests adding in the non native plant and favours chokeberry because of their fruits.
Native trees support native wildlife, and in some cases, that amounts to hundreds of species. Flailing a hedge will stop it from flowering and fruiting, which is terrible for wildlife and not great for us. If you go back in time, the ancient landscapes were not dense woodland and forest, rather they were scrublands or, as Benedict MacDonald calls it, thornlands – a mix of woodland, scrub and grassland which was constantly changed by large herbivores bundling through it. In other words, a bit like the New Forest is now.
What every hedge needs is a pollard. It is a similar technique to coppicing. But rather than cutting the tree back to ground level, the branches are removed at head height. The effect is the same, though, the tree resprouts again and again. An oak that is pollarded every 50 years will provide wood to build houses and ships, and you still have the tree. A coppice could provide 96 – 180 cubic metres of wood and do this for centuries.
The next best thing to a live tree is a dead tree. Over 600 different insects require dead wood in their lifecycle. A large proportion of ancient hedges can be dead wood, especially where the hedge layer has filled in the gaps with some of the surplus brushwood.
Pretty much every plant in a hedgerow has some other use. Mind you, back then, they couldn’t obliterate the ‘weeds’ with the ultra-toxic chemicals that we now have access to. Some gardening websites claim that it is ‘natural’ to destroy these plants with flamethrowers… Hedgerow plants have often been used for the treatment of various ailments, for example, foxgloves for heart conditions, and so on. There are some really wacky cures out there…
In 2011, a guy called Dr Rob Wolton took a look at his 90m long hedge to see just how many species it contained. It was supposed to be a yearlong project, but he is still going. So far, he has found over 2000 (yes 2000) species in this hedge, and he is still going!
We should remember that we rely on all of these other lifeforms to live, too. The current insect apocalypse that is happening suggests that we have had a 75% drop in insect numbers, with some almost certainly going extinct, some species of which we will never know. This has a knock-on effect up and down the food chain, because if we don’t have pollinators, then we don’t have food to eat. Gone are the thousands of swallows that you’d see in the summer skies.
Hart considers the birds that have come to rely on hedgerows for their survival and expands on how a fully formed hedge can spell the difference between survival and ‘thrival’. As well as birds and insects, a decent hedge will give protection to a number of mammals and other creatures, in particular the hedgehog. I also learned that we used to have a species of tree frog in this country; sadly is a species long gone from the shores.
On top of all the other great benefits that a hedge can give us, it also acts as a year-round larder. There are fresh green leaves in the spring, and a plethora of fruits and berries in the autumn. Plus, numerous plants could be used for medicinal purposes, provided you knew what you were doing… Access to a hedge means you can fill your bottle and plate all year.
Politicians of all hues keep going on about planting trees to help combat climate change. It would help, but it would be good if they got behind planting hedgerows. Oh, and stopped accepting large donations from the oil industry…
Rant aside, rather than planting woodlands, so often done with the wrong trees in the wrong place and using dreadful plastic tree guards, we’d be better off planting and maintaining our hedgerows. They absorb carbon, the wood from them has multiple uses, they shelter crops and stock, stop soil erosion and don’t take up vast swathes of land. In fact, hedges’ ecosystem services outnumber woodlands and meadows. Plus, if coppiced regularly, it can be fairly profitable too.
I really liked this book. Hart is a well-informed and engaging writer, and this book is wide-ranging and interesting, especially when most people would think this is quite a narrow subject. If you are one of those people who think that we are not putting enough time and energy into caring for and planting new hedgerows, then this book would be right up your holloway.
In some parts of the country, the hedge lines can be traced back as far as the Bronze Age and references to hedges are found scattered among lots of documents. Even though these hedges have been around a long time, following the wholesale theft of common land from the people by the aristocracy and the rich, lots more hedges were planted to enclose this land.
It is the underlying geology of the landscape that defines the plants that grow in the hedges in various parts of the country. Some areas are strong on holly, others have hawthorn, and wetter areas of the country you’ll find blackthorn. Because hedges have been part of the fabric of the country for so long, strange tales have permeated from these linear lines into folklore.
Replacing a hedge with a fence is just stupid. A fence absorbs no CO2, it cannot provide oxygen, shelter for stock, doesn’t provide nuts and berries or act as a windbreak and absorb rain. If treated to stop it from rotting, it will pollute the ground with all manner of toxins and will need replacing on a regular basis. A well-maintained and laid hedge can last indefinitely.
There was a formula for dating a hedge: Number of species per 30 yards x 110. It gives a reasonable guideline, but has been largely discredited now. The most accurate way is to look at old maps and trace the field lines and to go out into the landscape to see it for yourself. A survey of the hedges at Underhill Nature Reserve found eight species of trees and shrubs and an astounding 29 other species, five of which are seen as indicators of ancient woodland.
An ideal hedge will contain blackthorn and hawthorn (sometimes known as the Queen of trees), and whatever takes your fancy can be added to the mix. Hart even suggests adding in the non native plant and favours chokeberry because of their fruits.
Native trees support native wildlife, and in some cases, that amounts to hundreds of species. Flailing a hedge will stop it from flowering and fruiting, which is terrible for wildlife and not great for us. If you go back in time, the ancient landscapes were not dense woodland and forest, rather they were scrublands or, as Benedict MacDonald calls it, thornlands – a mix of woodland, scrub and grassland which was constantly changed by large herbivores bundling through it. In other words, a bit like the New Forest is now.
What every hedge needs is a pollard. It is a similar technique to coppicing. But rather than cutting the tree back to ground level, the branches are removed at head height. The effect is the same, though, the tree resprouts again and again. An oak that is pollarded every 50 years will provide wood to build houses and ships, and you still have the tree. A coppice could provide 96 – 180 cubic metres of wood and do this for centuries.
The next best thing to a live tree is a dead tree. Over 600 different insects require dead wood in their lifecycle. A large proportion of ancient hedges can be dead wood, especially where the hedge layer has filled in the gaps with some of the surplus brushwood.
Pretty much every plant in a hedgerow has some other use. Mind you, back then, they couldn’t obliterate the ‘weeds’ with the ultra-toxic chemicals that we now have access to. Some gardening websites claim that it is ‘natural’ to destroy these plants with flamethrowers… Hedgerow plants have often been used for the treatment of various ailments, for example, foxgloves for heart conditions, and so on. There are some really wacky cures out there…
In 2011, a guy called Dr Rob Wolton took a look at his 90m long hedge to see just how many species it contained. It was supposed to be a yearlong project, but he is still going. So far, he has found over 2000 (yes 2000) species in this hedge, and he is still going!
We should remember that we rely on all of these other lifeforms to live, too. The current insect apocalypse that is happening suggests that we have had a 75% drop in insect numbers, with some almost certainly going extinct, some species of which we will never know. This has a knock-on effect up and down the food chain, because if we don’t have pollinators, then we don’t have food to eat. Gone are the thousands of swallows that you’d see in the summer skies.
Hart considers the birds that have come to rely on hedgerows for their survival and expands on how a fully formed hedge can spell the difference between survival and ‘thrival’. As well as birds and insects, a decent hedge will give protection to a number of mammals and other creatures, in particular the hedgehog. I also learned that we used to have a species of tree frog in this country; sadly is a species long gone from the shores.
On top of all the other great benefits that a hedge can give us, it also acts as a year-round larder. There are fresh green leaves in the spring, and a plethora of fruits and berries in the autumn. Plus, numerous plants could be used for medicinal purposes, provided you knew what you were doing… Access to a hedge means you can fill your bottle and plate all year.
Politicians of all hues keep going on about planting trees to help combat climate change. It would help, but it would be good if they got behind planting hedgerows. Oh, and stopped accepting large donations from the oil industry…
Rant aside, rather than planting woodlands, so often done with the wrong trees in the wrong place and using dreadful plastic tree guards, we’d be better off planting and maintaining our hedgerows. They absorb carbon, the wood from them has multiple uses, they shelter crops and stock, stop soil erosion and don’t take up vast swathes of land. In fact, hedges’ ecosystem services outnumber woodlands and meadows. Plus, if coppiced regularly, it can be fairly profitable too.
I really liked this book. Hart is a well-informed and engaging writer, and this book is wide-ranging and interesting, especially when most people would think this is quite a narrow subject. If you are one of those people who think that we are not putting enough time and energy into caring for and planting new hedgerows, then this book would be right up your holloway.
October 24, 2024
5 stars for a book on hedgerows? Absolutely. I couldn't put this down. It was concise, informative, and laced with British humor. The author's love of hedgerows and love of nature is infectious.
I ordered this from the library on a whim because my husband and I want to block off our neighbor's unsightly yard/house from our barn pathway. We had talked about a traditional fence, considered adding more trees, and then eventually decided hedges could be a good idea after we took a vacation in the English countryside and saw the way they utilize hedges for privacy (and it WORKS). We also couldn't believe how much use these farms got from the berries and flowers from these hedges. Coincidentally, around the same time we also ended up watching the Clarkson Farm episode on "non farming" from the hedges where Jeremy comes to the same conclusion. Now, from picking up this book, I'm even more convinced it's the right way to go! I had no idea the ecological impact hedges have on soil health, CO2, and wildlife (including a rapidly declining insect population). It gives back to nature tenfold in a time when we are in dire need of replenishing our pollinator population. Hart does an excellent job depicting the ecological crisis we are in with the declining habitats for insects, birds, and small mammals along with the use of insecticides and harmful chemicals. I'm looking forward to adding rambling roses, blackberries, holly, and more to our yard!
I ordered this from the library on a whim because my husband and I want to block off our neighbor's unsightly yard/house from our barn pathway. We had talked about a traditional fence, considered adding more trees, and then eventually decided hedges could be a good idea after we took a vacation in the English countryside and saw the way they utilize hedges for privacy (and it WORKS). We also couldn't believe how much use these farms got from the berries and flowers from these hedges. Coincidentally, around the same time we also ended up watching the Clarkson Farm episode on "non farming" from the hedges where Jeremy comes to the same conclusion. Now, from picking up this book, I'm even more convinced it's the right way to go! I had no idea the ecological impact hedges have on soil health, CO2, and wildlife (including a rapidly declining insect population). It gives back to nature tenfold in a time when we are in dire need of replenishing our pollinator population. Hart does an excellent job depicting the ecological crisis we are in with the declining habitats for insects, birds, and small mammals along with the use of insecticides and harmful chemicals. I'm looking forward to adding rambling roses, blackberries, holly, and more to our yard!
January 23, 2024
Passionate, personal and informative. A great book on a really important subject.
December 22, 2024
Brilliant little book. Very informative but concise and easy to read. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in nature/rewilding/conservation/land management etc.
November 24, 2025
Interesting but very self righteous and the author seems to forget we don’t all have the resources to be planting our own hedges and be out picking berries in the countryside??
January 20, 2024
Christopher Hart has produced a labour of love.
This is a call to arms to respect, value and protect the beauty and importance of hedgerows.
The book has a variety of focuses but passion and knowledge exudes from every page.
The history of the hedgerows and their destruction /neglect over many decades to enable so-called more beneficial farming practices is shocking.
The folklore and traditions linked to hedgerows is fascinating ( along with foraging ideas) but the sections that intrigued the most were those that highlighted the diversity of flora and fauna found within hedgerows. How the make-up of plant species and their relationship with birds, insects, animals and lichen create such unique ecosystems- very much demonstrating that hedgerows are key to the fundamental survival of so much of our natural environment.
It feels like the demise of the hedgerow is - although not fully comparable- akin to the destruction of rainforests. The discussion as to how hedgerows can fight against climate change is clear. Christopher Hart's rewilding of his hedgerows needs to be adopted nationally - well internationally in comparable climates.
A wonderful book that is highly recommended to all lovers of the natural environment and the gardener who may just decide to adopt a different approach to their own garden.
This is a call to arms to respect, value and protect the beauty and importance of hedgerows.
The book has a variety of focuses but passion and knowledge exudes from every page.
The history of the hedgerows and their destruction /neglect over many decades to enable so-called more beneficial farming practices is shocking.
The folklore and traditions linked to hedgerows is fascinating ( along with foraging ideas) but the sections that intrigued the most were those that highlighted the diversity of flora and fauna found within hedgerows. How the make-up of plant species and their relationship with birds, insects, animals and lichen create such unique ecosystems- very much demonstrating that hedgerows are key to the fundamental survival of so much of our natural environment.
It feels like the demise of the hedgerow is - although not fully comparable- akin to the destruction of rainforests. The discussion as to how hedgerows can fight against climate change is clear. Christopher Hart's rewilding of his hedgerows needs to be adopted nationally - well internationally in comparable climates.
A wonderful book that is highly recommended to all lovers of the natural environment and the gardener who may just decide to adopt a different approach to their own garden.
Read
June 9, 2024I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book. As the owner of a Devon hedge, I love these special habitats anyway, but after reading this book I appreciate them on another level, and I learned I knew a lot less about them than I thought I did! Who knew we used to have tree frogs??
Here in the UK we are one of the most nature-impoverished nations, and our poor hedges are in serious disarray. This book acts as a call to arms for us to reclaim and restore these amazing, often overlooked habitats. The sections on just how to lay and maintain a hedge I found really interesting - this is where I learned the most and found myself wanting to rush outside and improve my own!
I loved the way Christopher Hart wrote about the hedgerow in this book. His passion was clear and I really enjoyed the little touches of humour and folk-knowledge sprinkled through. The information is presented in a really accessible way. Anyone could pick this book up and find it easy to follow and learn a whole lot in the process. I highly, highly recommend, and have already ordered myself a finished copy!
Thank you so much to Chelsea Green Publishing and NetGalley for an arc to review.
Here in the UK we are one of the most nature-impoverished nations, and our poor hedges are in serious disarray. This book acts as a call to arms for us to reclaim and restore these amazing, often overlooked habitats. The sections on just how to lay and maintain a hedge I found really interesting - this is where I learned the most and found myself wanting to rush outside and improve my own!
I loved the way Christopher Hart wrote about the hedgerow in this book. His passion was clear and I really enjoyed the little touches of humour and folk-knowledge sprinkled through. The information is presented in a really accessible way. Anyone could pick this book up and find it easy to follow and learn a whole lot in the process. I highly, highly recommend, and have already ordered myself a finished copy!
Thank you so much to Chelsea Green Publishing and NetGalley for an arc to review.
January 21, 2024
A book on hedges?! I am game. I don’t think people honestly know how important Hedgerows are for our wildlife (and a whole host of other factors. The book will enlighten and amaze you!).
Didn’t think you could be interested in a book on hedges? Think again. If you’re an ecologist, environmentalist or someone who loves nature, sure this book will completely be your bag but I’d also argue the non interested could find interest somewhere in this book too. But then again, I am the sort of person to enjoy a book on Hedges so take that as you will!
From the history of hedges, why they make a brilliant habitat, the wildlife they attract to the benefits to the environment, there really is more to the humble hedge than meets the eye.
Hedges. Who’d have thought they could be so cool!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
(I had a few reading formatting errors in my copy with superimposed text on top of text making the last few chapters a bit of a trial to read but I just about managed!).
Didn’t think you could be interested in a book on hedges? Think again. If you’re an ecologist, environmentalist or someone who loves nature, sure this book will completely be your bag but I’d also argue the non interested could find interest somewhere in this book too. But then again, I am the sort of person to enjoy a book on Hedges so take that as you will!
From the history of hedges, why they make a brilliant habitat, the wildlife they attract to the benefits to the environment, there really is more to the humble hedge than meets the eye.
Hedges. Who’d have thought they could be so cool!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
(I had a few reading formatting errors in my copy with superimposed text on top of text making the last few chapters a bit of a trial to read but I just about managed!).
April 8, 2024
This was a thoroughly interesting and timely read, considering how much destruction of hedging is going on in the country right now. It takes you on a real journey and teaches you so much about the simple 'hedge' and it's importance in so many aspects of nature. Something we've taken for granted over the years and now need to educate more people in keeping them and protecting them going forward.
This is a really passionately written book and I have learnt so much from it!! The author takes you through the history of hedges, full of astonishing facts, along with learning about the different practices used for layering and conservation, as well as focussing on the incredible benefits to wildlife that each hedge has. It really has made me notice more when I'm out and about, or even in the local neighbourhood and seeing the changes over the years from a well stocked hedge being ripped out and replaced by fencing or clipped privet which has no benefits for wildlife.
He looks at the changes in attitudes towards hedges throughout the years, from something that was sought over to it's current standing where many are being got rid of. He also shares knowledge of the different plants that can be used for hedging, along with the wildlife that use it and other wonderful bits of advice in helping the wildlife and eco-system in your garden or local area.
This is a really important book for people to read and I just hope that the knowledge of people increases through work like this so that we can see an increase in beneficial hedging again and halt the decline of wildlife habitats.
This is a really passionately written book and I have learnt so much from it!! The author takes you through the history of hedges, full of astonishing facts, along with learning about the different practices used for layering and conservation, as well as focussing on the incredible benefits to wildlife that each hedge has. It really has made me notice more when I'm out and about, or even in the local neighbourhood and seeing the changes over the years from a well stocked hedge being ripped out and replaced by fencing or clipped privet which has no benefits for wildlife.
He looks at the changes in attitudes towards hedges throughout the years, from something that was sought over to it's current standing where many are being got rid of. He also shares knowledge of the different plants that can be used for hedging, along with the wildlife that use it and other wonderful bits of advice in helping the wildlife and eco-system in your garden or local area.
This is a really important book for people to read and I just hope that the knowledge of people increases through work like this so that we can see an increase in beneficial hedging again and halt the decline of wildlife habitats.
January 23, 2025
We have a fair bit of hedge encircling our garden. It's a mix of all sorts but a stretch in the back is a wood fence. During recent storms we lost a good portion of it so I decided to research the best replacement that would a) keep our pets in the garden b) keep badgers out c) give nature a much needed helping hand. Planting a native multispecies hedge seems the best solution for all. I read Hedgelands as a way of understanding the various options that would suit best. I had already decided which trees and shrubs work best in Wiltshire to provide the best food, pollen, nectar and habitat for our garden-dwelling critters but needed more detail on progressing from a blank slate.
I found this book fascinating and also a titch repetitive. Lots of history and information, especially if you are reviving an old failing hedge. As I am looking to put in a new hedge I found little guidance on the best way forward as I would be starting from scratch. Assume that means a conservation laid hedge will not work here for many years? It would have been nice for guidance on new installations to be included to encourage others, like me, who would like to avoid enclosures devoid of value for nature. Though I know quite a lot more about British hedges and the author's preferred method, it doesn't help me much so my research continues as I search for the right answer.
I found this book fascinating and also a titch repetitive. Lots of history and information, especially if you are reviving an old failing hedge. As I am looking to put in a new hedge I found little guidance on the best way forward as I would be starting from scratch. Assume that means a conservation laid hedge will not work here for many years? It would have been nice for guidance on new installations to be included to encourage others, like me, who would like to avoid enclosures devoid of value for nature. Though I know quite a lot more about British hedges and the author's preferred method, it doesn't help me much so my research continues as I search for the right answer.
December 11, 2024
This book was a huge disappointment. Despite being on a subject of immense interest to me, with pages of praise from reviewers (most of which I’ve never heard of , it must be admitted), I found the book irritating in the extreme. Hart is so full of himself and his few yards of restored hedge that he appears to lack any sense of proportion. The book is repetitive in the extreme, to the extent it feels at times that it it is dictated without bothering to do any checking on the way.His repeated affectation of calling rylock stock fencing ‘barbed wire’ is plain silly, his long-winded and calculated insult to all policemen, comparing what they supposedly eat to their inability to ‘catch criminals’ is childish, his idea of ring barking hedgerow trees to provide standing dead wood, at the same time as repeatedly rubbishing tree planting, is breathtaking, and his idea of getting farmer’s onboard with ‘conservation hedgelaying’ by letting them push their hedges over with JCBs is plain laughable.
In short, the man is such a ‘know-it-all’ he does nature conservation no favours at all, and would be a nightmare for a neighbour.
The one positive for me was to learn about ‘conservation hedge laying’ (without a JCB).
In short, the man is such a ‘know-it-all’ he does nature conservation no favours at all, and would be a nightmare for a neighbour.
The one positive for me was to learn about ‘conservation hedge laying’ (without a JCB).
July 14, 2025
I bet you didn’t know hedges could help stave off our alarming drop in biodiversity!
I didn’t until I read this book. I thought a hedge and boring old bush was the same thing. Little did I know that traditional hedges are insanely rich ecosystems, sometimes over a thousand years old! Hedges can be part of manageable rewilding practices, feeding the wildlife and humans that live in and around it.
This book is an extremely educational, sometimes alarming primer on our catastrophic loss of biodiversity and the surprising way properly laid hedges can help. Absolutely packed with scientific, economic, historical, cultural, and linguistic information — and punctuated with wry humor — this will be a reference on my shelf for years to come.
Now I want to learn to lay hedges one day on my own land!
I didn’t until I read this book. I thought a hedge and boring old bush was the same thing. Little did I know that traditional hedges are insanely rich ecosystems, sometimes over a thousand years old! Hedges can be part of manageable rewilding practices, feeding the wildlife and humans that live in and around it.
This book is an extremely educational, sometimes alarming primer on our catastrophic loss of biodiversity and the surprising way properly laid hedges can help. Absolutely packed with scientific, economic, historical, cultural, and linguistic information — and punctuated with wry humor — this will be a reference on my shelf for years to come.
Now I want to learn to lay hedges one day on my own land!
April 19, 2024
Hedgelands by Christopher Hart must for many years go down as the definitive guide in the management of hedges. He estimates we have 400,000 kilometers, and with careful management would more effectively contribute to reducing climate change than an equivalent area of trees. Unfortunately farmers have in the past been encouraged to grub them out, and the remainder are often neglected. He persuasively argues that we are ignoring a valuable resource. After reading you'll never look at a hedge with indifference again.
March 3, 2024
Warning - this book could turn you into a hedge nerd! I have been regaling my partner with hedge and wildlife facts - the Dunnock - who knew!
It’s a call to arms but written in a positive accessible way. By focusing on something small it loops into a bigger picture. A really enjoyable read.
#Hedgelands #NetGalley
It’s a call to arms but written in a positive accessible way. By focusing on something small it loops into a bigger picture. A really enjoyable read.
#Hedgelands #NetGalley
April 3, 2024
This book is great for anyone who loves nature writing, gardening, and those of us who wish to help restore our natural landscapes.
We learn the history and folklore of the hedgerow and the unfortunate neglect and destruction of many of them.
The ecological benefits of hedgerows are something we don't talk enough about and we should be!
We learn the history and folklore of the hedgerow and the unfortunate neglect and destruction of many of them.
The ecological benefits of hedgerows are something we don't talk enough about and we should be!
April 4, 2024
If you have any interest in hedges, biodiversity or uk wildlife then this is the book for you. Easily readable without losing the depth or breadth of knowledge.
March 30, 2025
Fantastic! I saw this book recommended on instagram and just had to dive in. Such a pleasant, informative and witty book. One I think I will revisit and recommend to others.
August 17, 2025
Listened to it while running alongside hedges and through woodland and while foraging for fruits, which I think is how it should be listened to.
August 20, 2025
An educational and at times amusing read about the outsized influence that hedges have on the English natural environment.
December 3, 2025
The first two thirds of the book are very interesting, even though i live on the other side of the world. The last third wasn't relevant and a bit preachy in parts.
July 22, 2024
A celebration of nature, of life, and the discovery of what lives in hedges and that complex world,
Fascinating, intriguing, well researched and gripping. A non fiction that read like a great novel as the author is a good storyteller.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Fascinating, intriguing, well researched and gripping. A non fiction that read like a great novel as the author is a good storyteller.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 26, 2024
Britain is one of the most nature-impoverished nations on the planet, with around 19% of our wildlife having been lost since 1970 and nearly 1 in 6 species now threatened with extinction. The decline in British hedgerows is one contributing factor. According to one study, around half of UK hedges were lost during the 20th century, with many of those remaining in poor condition.
In Hedgelands, Christopher Hart details the history of the British hedge and explains how crucial the habitat has become to our wildlife over the millennia. He also examines the impact of hedgerow loss on our wildlife and suggests what may be done to combat the issue. There’s also a chapter on the food and foraging potential that hedgerows offer us.
An approachable and informative read. Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chelsea Green Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In Hedgelands, Christopher Hart details the history of the British hedge and explains how crucial the habitat has become to our wildlife over the millennia. He also examines the impact of hedgerow loss on our wildlife and suggests what may be done to combat the issue. There’s also a chapter on the food and foraging potential that hedgerows offer us.
An approachable and informative read. Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chelsea Green Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2024
Hedgelands, by novelist Christopher Hart, is a fascinating celebration of the humble British countryside hedge - which you soon learn is not so humble after all...
Hart begins his journey with an introduction about a rewilding project in Wiltshire, at Underhill Wood Nature Reserve, which involved rejuvenating tired hedgerows using age-old traditional hedge-laying and management methods, and resulted in a wondrous explosion of wildlife. He then uses this exciting venture as a spring-board to extol the virtues of our long-suffering hedgerows to explain why, not just preserving them, but re-establishing them across the countryside is something we should be endeavouring to support.
From the history of hedgerows; to planting and managing them; and on to how important they can be in combatting climate change; Hart gives you a lot to consider. The first thing, and perhaps most obvious factor, is the benefit of a well-managed hedgerow to our native flora and fauna - trees, shrubs, flowering plants, fungi, lichen, insects, birds, small mammals, and amphibians... the list of species who can find sanctuary in its leafy environs is extensive, many of which are already threatened by the loss of traditional habitats. Not to mention the vital importance of hedges as 'corridors' via which animal life can move around the countryside.
But there is so much more! Hedgerows are an important food source for wildlife, and for us humans too - foraging has become especially fashionable in recent years, and more hedgerows would provide a valuable resource for those who like to go trudging about the countryside. This is before we even get into the nitty gritty of how important they can be in terms of ecological factors such as acting as 'carbon' banks', and ways to counteract the soil erosion and flooding issues modern farming and housing development methods only make worse.
Hart's enthusiasm is infectious, and this love letter to the British hedge is highly engaging, - especially when it comes to thinking about the things our ancient hedges have been witness to over the years, and the way they are inextricably woven into our social history and language. Parts of this book are a little ambitious for the average suburban gardener, and unless you have an acre or two to spare the details about managing hedges might not be something you will find yourself getting involved with. However, this book really does make you think about how you can improve areas of your own garden to be more welcoming to wildlife in a hedgerow fashion. There are definitely things we can all do, however small. Highly recommended if you love well written nature books that inform just as much as they entertain.
Hart begins his journey with an introduction about a rewilding project in Wiltshire, at Underhill Wood Nature Reserve, which involved rejuvenating tired hedgerows using age-old traditional hedge-laying and management methods, and resulted in a wondrous explosion of wildlife. He then uses this exciting venture as a spring-board to extol the virtues of our long-suffering hedgerows to explain why, not just preserving them, but re-establishing them across the countryside is something we should be endeavouring to support.
From the history of hedgerows; to planting and managing them; and on to how important they can be in combatting climate change; Hart gives you a lot to consider. The first thing, and perhaps most obvious factor, is the benefit of a well-managed hedgerow to our native flora and fauna - trees, shrubs, flowering plants, fungi, lichen, insects, birds, small mammals, and amphibians... the list of species who can find sanctuary in its leafy environs is extensive, many of which are already threatened by the loss of traditional habitats. Not to mention the vital importance of hedges as 'corridors' via which animal life can move around the countryside.
But there is so much more! Hedgerows are an important food source for wildlife, and for us humans too - foraging has become especially fashionable in recent years, and more hedgerows would provide a valuable resource for those who like to go trudging about the countryside. This is before we even get into the nitty gritty of how important they can be in terms of ecological factors such as acting as 'carbon' banks', and ways to counteract the soil erosion and flooding issues modern farming and housing development methods only make worse.
Hart's enthusiasm is infectious, and this love letter to the British hedge is highly engaging, - especially when it comes to thinking about the things our ancient hedges have been witness to over the years, and the way they are inextricably woven into our social history and language. Parts of this book are a little ambitious for the average suburban gardener, and unless you have an acre or two to spare the details about managing hedges might not be something you will find yourself getting involved with. However, this book really does make you think about how you can improve areas of your own garden to be more welcoming to wildlife in a hedgerow fashion. There are definitely things we can all do, however small. Highly recommended if you love well written nature books that inform just as much as they entertain.
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