Hedges for Wildlife at Folly Lane

Comma butterfly on Hazel

Hedges are great places for wildlife, providing homes and food for many different species of animals. In turn, these species provide services which help allotment crops. 

Butterflies, bees and other insects are important pollinators.  Hedgehogs, frogs, ladybirds and birds such as thrushes all predate on species which can damage the food we grow, like aphids or slugs. So, it’s in all our interests that the hedges around the site are in the best possible condition.

We are lucky at Folly Lane in having a good range of different types of boundary hedges.  These include some great wildlife features such as hazel coppice, blackthorn thickets and mature hedgerow trees.  But other areas are dominated by alien species such as Leylandi and Russian Vine which offer little benefit.  Other boundary areas are just bare fences.  And some areas have become very overgrown and shaded, reducing their attraction to wildlife and encroaching on individual plots.

So we came up with this plan, which aims to give better hedges for wildlife in a way which also helps allotment holders and adjoining residents.  The plan depends on voluntary effort and will evolve over time. 

Folly Lane Allotments - Hedges Policy 2025 .pdf

Download PDF • 188KB

All thoughts and suggestions gratefully received.

Contact Malcolm Hull: malcolmhull7@gmail.com