Hedgerow Restoration in the UK: Kent Volunteers Plant Thousands of Metres to Boost Wildlife
Across the countryside of Kent, volunteers are helping to restore one of Britain’s most important yet often overlooked natural habitats — hedgerows. This year, a dedicated group of local conservation volunteers is planting around 3,800 yards (3,500 metres) of new hedgerows, creating vital shelter and food sources for wildlife.
The work is part of the Hedgerow Heroes initiative, led by CPRE, which brings together community groups, farmers, and environmental organisations to restore the traditional landscape features that once defined rural England.
As biodiversity loss becomes a growing concern across the UK, projects like this are playing an increasingly important role in wildlife conservation in Kent and beyond.
Why Hedgerows Are Essential for Wildlife Conservation
Hedgerows are far more than simple field boundaries. Often described as “nature’s highways,” they provide continuous habitat corridors that allow wildlife to move safely through the countryside.
For birds, insects, mammals, and plants, hedgerows provide:
- Food sources such as berries, flowers, and insects
- Shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals
- Protection from predators and harsh weather
- Migration corridors connecting fragmented habitats
Species such as hedgehogs, dormice, butterflies, and many farmland birds depend heavily on hedgerows to survive. These natural barriers also support pollinators, which are essential for agriculture and ecosystem health.
In addition to supporting wildlife, hedgerows deliver important environmental benefits, including:
- Reducing soil erosion
- Improving water management
- Storing carbon and helping tackle climate change
- Protecting crops from wind damage
For these reasons, hedgerow restoration has become a key focus of modern conservation efforts across the UK countryside.
Community Volunteers Leading Hedgerow Restoration in Kent
One of the latest planting efforts is taking place at Birling Estate, where volunteers from a local group are helping to establish new hedgerow habitat.
The volunteers are part of a network of 13 community groups across Kent participating in the Hedgerow Heroes project. Their work includes planting new hedgerows, restoring damaged sections, and managing existing hedges to encourage wildlife.
According to Andrea Griffiths, director of CPRE Kent, hedgerows are often overlooked despite their importance to rural ecosystems.
She describes them as “the unsung heroes of the countryside.”
“They provide vital habitat for wildlife, food and shelter, they connect existing habitat together by green corridors,” she says.
Griffiths added: “There’s not a bad thing about hedgerows. Hedgerows are amazing.
“They obviously store carbon, they improve our air quality, they improve the soil, they help stop flooding.”
Hedgerows provide enormous environmental value, yet many people pass them every day without realising the role they play in supporting biodiversity and protecting farmland.
The Decline of Hedgerows in the UK Countryside
Although hedgerows have shaped the British landscape for centuries, huge numbers have been lost over the past 70 years.
Following the intensification of agriculture after World War II, many hedgerows were removed to create larger fields for modern farming equipment. Urban expansion has also contributed to their decline.
The result has been a significant loss of habitat for wildlife. When hedgerows disappear, animals lose vital shelter and migration routes, which can lead to declining populations.
This is why conservation groups, farmers, and volunteers are now working together to reverse decades of hedgerow loss through restoration projects.
Griffiths says initiatives like Hedgerow Heroes are helping to “put some of that right” by restoring traditional hedgerow networks that support wildlife and rural landscapes.
Planting 27 Miles of Hedgerows Across Kent
The latest phase of the Hedgerow Heroes project will continue through March, with volunteers working across 19 different sites in Kent.
Together, the participating groups aim to plant and restore 27 miles (43 kilometres) of hedgerows across the county.
Each section of newly planted hedgerow contributes to a larger ecological network. Over time, these corridors allow wildlife to move more freely between habitats, helping populations recover and ecosystems become more resilient.
Typical hedgerow planting involves a mixture of native species such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, and field maple. These plants provide seasonal flowers, berries, and dense cover that wildlife depends on throughout the year.
As these hedges mature, they will gradually develop into rich habitats supporting hundreds of species.
Farmers Supporting Wildlife-Friendly Landscapes
Farmers are playing a crucial role in the success of hedgerow restoration projects. At Birling Estate, arable farmer Guy Nevill is supporting volunteers as they plant new hedgerows on the estate.
Nevill says the project helps build on the environmental work already being carried out on the farm.
“There’s lots of people doing really good stuff already, it’s just trying to form a structure that helps to coordinate some of that.”
By integrating conservation initiatives into agricultural landscapes, farmers can help create a balance between food production and biodiversity protection.
Hedgerows also provide practical benefits for farms. They act as windbreaks, improve soil health, and support pollinators that help crops thrive.
This collaboration between landowners and community volunteers shows how local action can deliver meaningful environmental change.
The Growing Success of the Hedgerow Heroes Project
The Hedgerow Heroes initiative has already made a significant impact across England. Over the past four winters, CPRE reports that volunteers have planted and restored 66 miles (105 kilometres) of hedgerows nationwide.
Each year, new volunteers join the project, helping to expand its reach and restore more lost habitat.
Beyond planting hedgerows, the project also raises awareness about the importance of maintaining and protecting existing hedges. Proper management — such as traditional hedge laying and careful trimming — is essential for keeping these habitats healthy.
By involving local communities directly in conservation work, the initiative also helps people reconnect with the landscapes around them.
How Hedgerow Restoration Supports the Future of Wildlife
The restoration of hedgerows is a powerful example of how small, local actions can contribute to large-scale environmental recovery.
Across the UK, conservation organisations are increasingly recognising that rebuilding natural networks of habitat is essential for reversing biodiversity loss.
Projects like Hedgerow Heroes demonstrate that community-driven conservation can play a vital role in protecting wildlife while strengthening the character of the countryside.
In places like Kent, volunteers are helping ensure that future generations will still experience landscapes rich with birdsong, wildflowers, and thriving ecosystems.
By restoring hedgerows today, they are helping rebuild the natural foundations of the countryside for decades to come.
At Natural World Fund, we believe restoring habitats like hedgerows is essential for protecting biodiversity and rebuilding resilient ecosystems. Hedgerows provide vital shelter, food, and movement corridors for countless species, from birds and pollinators to small mammals. Yet across the UK, many of these natural wildlife highways have disappeared due to agricultural intensification and development. By supporting habitat restoration projects, working with farmers, and empowering community volunteers, we can help reconnect fragmented landscapes and ensure wildlife across the UK countryside has the space it needs to recover and thrive for generations to come.