Bridford, Devon

Bridford Wildlife Wardens have been looking at our local hedges.  The Wildlife Warden scheme has been set up by ACT (Action for Climate in Teignbridge) for people to work in their local area to encourage wildlife, helping to create a mosaic of connected habitats throughout Teignbridge which will in turn connect with the wider country. Hedges play a vital part in this connectivity. In a heavily managed landscape such as we have in the UK, wildlife has limited options for moving between areas to fulfil basic needs of feeding and reproduction and fragmentation of habitats is a key cause of wildlife depletion. At best, hedges offer a bountiful network of fruiting trees which is a highway for insects, birds and animals to travel between areas such as scrub and woodland to access food and mates. For example, the dormouse relies on hedges as a route between small woodlands, moving through the branches in shelter and feasting on the nuts and berries.  Without the ability to make these small but crucial journeys, the population will become isolated and eventually die out. Thanks to Frank Vassan for this photograph.

So when thinking about a cut please consider GIVE CUTTING A REST if you can; KEEP IT HIGH; DON’T CUT TOO CLOSE; CUT LATE. Give cutting a rest so that the hedge can regenerate and produce fruit in the 2^nd and 3^rd year; Keep it High so that the hedge provides shelter and nesting opportunities; Don’t cut too close so that the hedges structure is not damaged (a hedge will start to die if flailed to the same point every year); Cut late ideally in late Winter so that bird and mammals have a bounty of food throughout the winter.  And if you don’t have a hedge?  Maybe consider planting one of native species and connecting it with a neighbours and enjoy the wildlife that comes to visit.

Do comment or contact us at [email protected].

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our Wildlife Gardening competition!  We had 15 entries ranging from tiny courtyard gardens to expansive wildflower meadows.   During August’s heatwave our judge, Paul French, visited each garden/smallholding accompanied by one of Bridford’s Wildlife Wardens.  It was inspiring to see so much care and attention going in to creating an exciting variety of habitats for wildlife, and everyone who entered has helped to raise awareness of the importance of gardening with wildlife in mind.  

Once all the gardens had been visited we held an informal presentation in the Woodland Park to which entrants and their families came for light refreshments and to see who had won!  Everyone who entered was given a Certificate to commemorate their efforts.  

We’d like to thank everyone who helped to make this event possible including Teign Valley Nursery, Teign House Inn, Whippletree Farm, Bridford Parish Council and Paul French who had the difficult job of deciding who had won in each of 3 classes.  More competition-related posts to follow!

Contact us: [email protected]