England has lost more than half of its rural hedgerows since 1945 — removed to make way for larger farm fields, development, and roads. What remains is often fragmented: isolated patches of habitat that wildlife cannot easily move between. For species that depend on connected landscapes to find food, mates, and shelter, that fragmentation can be quietly devastating.
The Hampshire Hedge is a three-year effort to do something practical about it. Organised by CPRE Hampshire — the Hampshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, a countryside conservation charity — the project has been planting and restoring a continuous network of traditional hedgerow through the central parishes of Hampshire in southern England, connecting the South Downs National Park and the New Forest National Park. The two parks sit roughly 22 kilometres (14 miles) apart, and the hedge winds between them, linking woodlands, meadows, local nature reserves, and protected wildlife sites along the way.
By the time of "Hedgefest" — a celebration held at Broadlands Estate near Romsey in Hampshire — 13,724 metres of hedgerow had been planted toward the 15,000-metre target. Volunteers had contributed 13,678 hours of work and planted 68,620 individual whips, the young saplings used to establish a hedge. More than 2,700 young people and 35 schools across Hampshire have taken part.
The ecological case for hedgerows is compelling. Research shows they can provide habitat for up to 2,000 species over the course of a year, including hedgehogs, dormice, hundreds of insect species, and more than 60 types of nesting bird. They also capture carbon, reduce flood risk, and prevent soil erosion.
The project was supported by the UK's National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hampshire County Council, and several other conservation organisations. Hedgefest also marked CPRE's 100th anniversary as an organisation.