Discovering hedgerows

by David Streeter, Rosamond Richardson-Gerson

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this is mostly a celebration of hedgerows, an ecological study of them or a history of them, but whatever it is, it's worth reading.

Specifically, this is a book about English hedgerows, and more particularly, two particular hedgerows, one in Sussex and one in Essex, which the authors studied in detail. The book starts off with an overview of hedgerows, their origin, function and importance as an ecological habitat. It then looks at the life of the hedgerow over a seven month period, running from April to October, with a chapter devoted to each month. Each chapter is prefaced with a delightful botanical illustration of the flowers in bloom during that month and goes on to discuss what flora and fauna to look out for and what hedgerow maintenance tasks are required during that period, all interspersed with wildlife identification tips, folklore, historical facts and superstitions connected with hedgerows during that month. Each chapter ends with some recipes using seasonal ingredients harvested from the hedgerow.

Although this book was published in 1982, it still has so much that is relevant and interesting to today's reader. Although the book is focussed on two specific areas of England, much of the material is applicable to any part of the UK. Recommended for anyone who would like to learn more about hedgerows.

[Kirsten Lost 2022 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what, this might be the world's most boring book, but the information in here is fantastic, the illustrations are great, and the recipes are the cherry on top. I do feel like this book will be better served in someone else's hands, though!