Hedgerow Survey in Pembridge
Pembridge Tree Warden. Nick Rumble is looking for volunteers to help with a parish wide survey of our hedgerows. For those interested in finding out more there’s a meeting at the New Inn, Pembridge, at 18.30 on Wednesday 4th October. If you’re interested, but can’t make the meeting, call Nick on 07808 791020.
We met up with him to find out what the purpose of this is and what’s involved.
Q. What is the purpose of the Hedgerow survey?
NR: It’s to build a database of this important habitat, for the use of future researchers, students, developers, landowners, and administrators and to capture a record of its current extent, age, and variety. Some of the hedgerows are certainly 16th century in origin and others over 1000 years. It’s hoped we will make some discoveries, ancient origins, and unusual species. The survey includes fauna, dormice are reestablishing a population, and the flora of understory which will extend to lichens, liverworts and so on.
What we know from old maps is that land-use has been in constant flux, yet our hedgerows are often overlooked as a living record of that history. With so much of the natural world under threat it’s vitally important to measure what we have, as a baseline against which we can judge the future.
Q: How will you capture and record the data you gather?
NR: We use a methodology set out by DEFRA. Given the range of data, and the size of the project, we need a robust and simple way of capturing the record in the field and centralising it. Digital software has provided a great resource, which will exactly locate the observations using GPS, upload photos and collate all the individual surveys.
Q: What incentives are there for landowners to preserve hedgerows?
NR: Coincidentally, the Government is rolling out a Sustainability Incentive Scheme for landowners and farmers, which includes hedgerows We will share our data to provide the Condition Report for those who decide to apply.
Q: What will volunteers be required to do?
NR: Volunteers need to be prepared to tramp many fields, have a cell phone, a tape measure, and an inquiring mind. We have some experts in the group to offer advice, but most, including me, will enjoy learning something completely new. We will of course provide training and the opportunity to pair up, otherwise it could be a bit soul destroying after 200 miles of hawthorn! Given that there are many hundreds of kilometres, it is quite a project, nevertheless a task that participants can undertake at their leisure; we have no deadlines.
Kay Ingram
