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• Denby Dale Parish Environment Trust >
• Hedgerow Survey 2004

Hedgerow Survey 2004

In the summer of 2004 a complete survey of hedgerows in the Denby Dale Parish was carried out by a group of 40 volunteers, on behalf of the Denby Dale Parish Environment Trust

The survey identified a total of 1114 hedges in the parish, with a total measured length of almost 160km.  The hedges are distributed across the parish as shown below:

From the table it can be seen that Emley has the greatest number and length of hedgerows and also the highest densities per square km. Conversely, Birdsedge and High Flatts has the lowest numbers, as might be expected since the boundaries there are predominantly stone walls.

Whilst measuring the total length of each hedge the percentage of gaps within this length was also estimated, in the bands 0%, 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100%.

It can be seen that almost half of the hedges (44%) have no gaps, with 79% of the hedges having less than 25% gaps.

Another part of the survey looked at the management of hedges whether they were recently cut, cut in the last 2 – 3 years or were left uncut. Of the 1058 hedges for which the information was recorded, approximately 50% show signs of recent management (26% Recently Cut and 24% with 2/3 years growth) and 50% are Uncut.

Emley has a high percentage (73%) of hedges which are either Recently Cut or showing 2-3 years Growth, compared to an average across the Parish of only 50%.

Newly planted hedgerows were also recorded. (i.e. those planted within about the last 5 years and not yet fully formed hedges. This excludes many of the hedges planted in recent decades following open-casting or quarrying.) Across the Parish a total of 40 hedges with a measured length of approx 6km were recorded.

Of the 1114 hedges identified, 11 had no species recorded. In the remaining 1103 hedges, 24 different woody species were recorded e.g., hawthorn, blackthorn, elder etc. The following table shows the frequency of the different species.

The hedgerow trees were also recorded and counted with 20 different species being recorded. The following table shows the tree species and their numbers.

Emley was the area with the largest number of trees whereas Birdsedge and High Flatts, not surprisingly, has the least.

Some of the hedges in the Parish have been classed in our report as “Important” or “Significant” depending upon the number of species in the hedge together with the number of associated features. The associated features include 0% gaps, a bank, a ditch, connecting hedges, a parallel hedge within 15 metres or a public right of way. These were found right across the Parish with 44 being classed as Important and 98 classed as Significant.

There are also 331 hedges not classed as above but that are important for wildlife. These do not have as many species or associated features but their structure i.e., overgrown and bushy or overgrown plus outgrowth, allows for more animal and bird species to flourish.

25 January 2005