The humble hedgerow is the unsung hero of our countryside. Hedges connect habitats and provide homes for wildlife. They protect the soil, clean the air and absorb carbon emissions.
But around half our hedgerows have been lost since the end of the Second World War – leaving us vulnerable to the threats of climate change and air pollution, while intensifying nature’s decline.
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England is calling on the government to commit to planting thousands of miles of hedges all across the country – starting now.
Expanding our hedgerow network will contribute to reducing climate change while revitalising our landscapes. It will create new lifelines for bees, hedgehogs, dormice and much of the other wildlife we love so much, while linking existing, fragmented habitats.
The government’s own climate change advisors have said we need 40% more hedges by 2050.
You can find out more and sign the CPRE petition here.