Way to grow! Charity's hedge planting project reaches 30 miles

Tuesday 04 January 2022

More than 10,000 hedging whips were planted by the National Trust for Jersey in the lead up to Christmas – taking the total up to 55,000 measuring over 30 miles in length.

The Trust’s Hedge Fund Project, which aims to connect important habitats around Jersey, is now three years old.

Last year, the hedging whips were planted along field boundaries around Crabbé, measuring around 7.5 miles in length.

As the hedgerows grow and develop, they will act as corridors to connect Grève de Lecq Woods and Le Mourier Valley, where the National Trust is carrying out an extensive tree planting project on both sides of the valley, in partnership with Trees for Life.

“With the support of Jersey Royal, landowners and our generous funders, we have been able to initiate an immensely important hedgerow restoration project, which will secure enormous environmental benefits for the Island in the longer term," a spokesperson for the charity said.

Pictured: A line of newly planted hedgerow whips at Crabbé in St. Mary.

“We hope to be able to further develop this initial pilot project in years to come so that the Island has a hedgerow network of which it can be duly proud, and which will help safeguard our wildlife and rural landscape character.”

Funding for the planting, materials and plants was provided by the Government’s Countryside Enhancement Scheme, with nearly £30,000 being granted. 

The planting records and maps will be loaded digitally onto the Jersey Biodiversity Centre website which will assist with monitoring and planting initiatives in the future. 

The Roy Overland Charitable Trust also continued its financial support, providing funding for officer time for the planning, monitoring and management throughout the year. 

Pictured: A team from Zedra at work.

Public donations – allowing people to fund one metre of hedgerow for £5 - have also enabled an additional 2,500 hedging whips to be planted.

The field boundaries planted to date are still being cared for and monitored. Maintenance visits carried out by a team of volunteers, some of whom helped with the initial planting, have been completed. 

Loses throughout the areas planted have been recorded and new trees will be planted in their place to ensure the continued success and longevity of the project.

(Pictured: Some of the whips ready to be planted and the Jersey Royal planting team.)