Hedgerow trees have always played an important role in the countryside both culturally and environmentally however, between 1950 and 1990 they suffered significant loss. This was a result of a combination of factors, notably changing field patterns, the mechanisation of agriculture and Dutch Elm disease.

Today, managing hedges with hedgerow trees is much more time consuming and expensive than managing those hedges without. This discourages farmers from selecting and encouraging future generations of hedgerow trees.

The introduction of the Entry and Higher Level Schemes in 2005 offered policy makers the opportunity to provide incentives to encourage hedgerow trees throughout the UK. However the opportunity was not taken.

We are calling on DEFRA to amend the Entry and Higher Level Schemes and include a new "hedgerow trees" option. This is designed to encourage farmers to select and nurture young trees that will become the future generation of hedgerow trees, a century or more from now.

The following .pdf resources are available:>>> Hedgerow trees a strategy for renewal

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