We recently hosted our very first hedgelaying workshop for our Community Garden Network, who are doing amazing work across Midlothian to support native species. It was a brilliant day of hands-on learning, and we’re excited to see this traditional skill shared more widely across the region.
Fun fact: Did you know Britain's hedgerows stretch over 700,000km? This is over 1.5 times the distance to the moon!
So, what actually is hedgelaying?
Hedgelaying is a traditional craft where stems are carefully cut almost through and bent at an angle, encouraging thick new growth from the base, creating a dense, healthy, living hedge.
Hedgelaying is the only hedgerow maintenance method that promotes regrowth from ground level, ensuring the long-term health of the hedge. A well-laid hedge, properly maintained, can last for hundreds of years.
Why do hedges matter?
Hedgerows are an essential habitat for native biodiversity. They are able to support over 2,000 species. Across the hedgerow network as a whole, over 500 plant species, 60 species of nesting bird, many hundreds of invertebrates, and almost all of our native small mammal species have been recorded. There are 130 Biodiversity Action Plan species closely associated with hedges, including lichens, fungi, and reptiles.
Studies show that managed hedges support more wildlife than unmanaged ones, and they play a role in reducing soil erosion, buffering wind, and even storing carbon.
They are also critical as wildlife corridors in our increasingly fragmented landscape, allowing species to move safely across habitats. Scotland’s estimated hedgerow network now spans over 22,000km and here in Midlothian we want to see that network grow.
We’re excited to see the skills learned at our workshop put to work and we’re looking forward to running more in the future!
