What is a hedge?
Q: What is a hedge?
A: A hedge or hedgerow is a close-knit row of shrubs and sometimes tree species, usually planted and "trained" to form a barrier.
Q: What is the purpose of a hedge?
A: Hedges were used to mark the boundary of an area and were a sign of possession. They were also used by livestock farmers to prevent cattle straying out of fields.
Q: Why are hedges less common now?
A: Modern crop farming uses machines to gather the crop, and so hedges have almost disappeared in some areas.
Q: Do species in a hedge change over time?
A: Yes, when hedges are first laid, they are usually all of one species. But over hundreds of years, the number of species in a hedge gradually increases, and often includes fully-grown trees.
Q: What are some decorative uses of hedges?
A: Making hedges into ornaments is a skill called topiary. Sometimes hedges are made into mazes.
Q: Why are hedges important to small birds and mammals?
A: Hedges are vitally important to small birds and mammals. In the modern world they play the role which thick forest undergrowth would have played in an ancient ecology.
Q: What is a benefit of nesting in a hedge or thicket?
A: The nests in a hedge or thicket often cannot be got at by larger predators, providing a safe place for birds like robins or finches to nest, increasing the chances of their brood surviving.
