An exhibit celebrating and sharing all things hedge; from biodiversity, management, to historic element and everything in between. Updated by the FWAG SW Somerset team.
This blog ran throughout 2020 and was updated each month.
All our blog posts are written by advisers, trustees, farmers and members. These posts express the opinions of the writer and are not necessarily the views of FWAG SW. We welcome you to interact with us by commenting on these posts and sharing your thoughts and opinions, these topics are all open for discussion! See you in the comments...
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) – the spiny hedgerow friend. Sometimes it’s worth looking at the latin, or botanical, name – it can tell you a lot. The ‘prunus’ tells us that blackthorn is part of the ‘cherry’ family – hence the rich, inky, dark fruits that blackthorn is famous for used to make a favourite wintry tipple – sloe gin. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
February seems an odd time of year to be talking about our native honeysuckle (lonicera periclymenum). However, honeysuckle is one of the first deciduous hedgerow and woodland plants to stir. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Often overshadowed by its neighbours in summer, dogwood comes into its own in the depths of winter when a splash of vibrant red is a welcome sight during the cold months. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
The Christmas season is upon us and what plant most evokes the aesthetics of this festive season, well it must be Holly of course! Holly is a genus of about 480 species of flowering plants in the Aquifoliaceae family, but here we will be looking at the IIex auifolium species. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Ivy (Hedera helix) is a dominate species within our countryside and can be found growing in hedgerows, woodland, scrub and on walls and trees. There are two native subspecies of ivy in the UK. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Also known as travellers joy, old man’s beard is surprisingly a member of the buttercup family (Clematis vitalba). It is common in the south of the country but has spread to many areas. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Spindle is a deciduous native tree that can grow to 9m and can live for more than 100 years. The bark and twigs are distinctively deep green and stand out in a winter hedgerow against the duller colours of other species. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Hazel can be found in many of our woods and hedgerows in the south west. Coppicing well and easily worked, hazel has long been a corner stone of British agriculture. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
The field maple (Acer Campestre) is our only native maple. It has distinctive glossy, dark green, five lobed leaves with rounded points. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
The native dog rose (Rosa canina) is a familiar sight in our hedgerows, with its pale pink and white flowers, usually blooming from May through to August, providing a source of nectar for bees and beetles. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Hawthorn trees can typically live up to 250 years, however, one of the oldest specimens found in Nolfolk named “The Hethel Old Thorn”, is reputed to be over 700 years old. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more
Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) is commonly found in the shaded understory of hedges and on hedge banks. Click here to find out more about this hedgerow species... Read more