GovWire

Its up to you how you complete each SFI action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the actions aim (which is described in each action).

This voluntary guidance includes advice on how you could do the actions for hedgerows (HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3):

You may find it helpful to read this guidance, but you do not have to follow it. The requirements you must follow for each SFI action are explained in the Details of the SFI actions, which you can find in either:

• section 2 of the SFI handbook

• the webpage versions of the details of the SFI actions

How to assess and record hedgerow condition (HRW1)

What youre aiming to achieve

The aim of HRW1 is that you:

• understand the condition of your hedgerows

• effectively plan how they can be managed to improve their condition

Completing a hedgerow condition assessment

You can choose how to complete the hedgerow condition assessment required by HRW1. There is no standard format. It could be a simple survey.

Because youre assessing the structure of the hedgerow, not species, you can do this survey at any time of year. You may find it easier to see the structure of the hedgerow during the winter months, when there is less foliage.

The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) has produced guidance on surveying to assess hedgerow condition, which explains that you can:

• record the start and end point of each hedgerow these points include where another hedge meets the hedge youre surveying, or the hedge structure changes dramatically for 20 metres (m) or more, or the hedge meets a wall or woodland or it turns a corner of 90 degrees of more

• estimate or measure the average height and width of hedgerow

• estimate the average height of the base canopy this is the height from the ground up to the lowest leafy growth

• count the number of trees in the length of hedgerow youre surveying this could also help you to do HRW3 (maintain or establish hedgerow trees)

• assess the hedgerow structure you can use the Adams Hedgerow Management Scale to help you do this

• estimate or measure the total length of gap within the hedgerow, not including gateways or access points

Producing a written hedgerow condition assessment record

You can choose how to produce the written hedgerow condition assessment required by HRW1. There is no standard format.

To complete the hedgerow condition assessment and produce a written record, you may find it helpful to use the PTES Healthy Hedgerows Survey online tool. This is a rapid hedgerow health checking survey, which includes an app for mobile phones (you can also complete the survey on paper and input your results to the website).

If you do use the PTES Healthy Hedgerows Survey tool, it may generate more management options than are available in the SFI actions for hedgerows. If this is the case, make sure you do whats required in the relevant SFI action.

How to manage hedgerows (HRW2)

What youre aiming to achieve

The aim of HRW2 is that you manage hedgerows so theres a range of different heights and widths to provide:

• habitat for wildlife

• pollen, nectar and berries for mammals, birds and insects

Managing hedgerows

HRW2 explains what youre required to do to manage hedgerows entered into this action (under What to do).

Before you start managing the hedgerows, check whether there are any regulatory restrictions which may affect what youre intending to do. For example:

• birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until the birds fledge

• you can check with your local authority if any hedgerows are in a conservation area

• if your management of hedgerows will include felling trees, check if you need a tree felling licence

To find out more, read the information about regulatory issues and consents that could affect you and the land in an SFI agreement (or section 4.3 of the SFI handbook).

You may find it helpful to read the PTES guidance on top tips for managing hedgerows or Hedgelinks hedgerow management advice.

Cutting hedgerows

How you cut the hedgerows will affect how much wildlife benefit they will have. For example, if a hedgerow is cut:

• too low it will not be used by birds and animals that like to feed or nest further away from the ground

• back to the same point every year, its unlikely to produce many berries

• to the same height each time, it will have poor structure and is likely to provide fewer nesting sites for birds and easier access for their predators

Hedgerows will usually be fully established around 5 years after theyre planted. If youre incrementally cutting fully established hedgerows, you can do this by increasing the height and width of each cut by about 10 centimetres (cm) compared with the previous cut.

If its a newly planted, or not fully established, hedgerow, HRW2 requires you to trim it incrementally until its fully established. Light, regular, incremental trimming of the hedgerow in its early years will encourage dense, bushy growth.

You can find more information about cutting hedgerows in Natural Englands Hedge cutting: answers to 18 common questions leaflet.

Coppicing or laying hedgerows

You can manage fully established hedgerows in a coppicing or laying rotation, to restore hedgerows to stimulate new growth from the base.

You can manage regrowth by cutting it incrementally higher and wider to form a bushy hedgerow.

How to maintain or establish hedgerow trees (HRW3)

What youre aiming to achieve

The aim of HRW3 is that you maintain or establish hedgerow trees to help provide:

• habitat for wildlife

• carbon storage benefits

Establishing new hedgerow trees

To establish new trees in hedgerows, you can select existing saplings with a single straight stem or plant a new sapling.

In both cases, try to:

• plant or select a mix of different, site-suited species to support a wider variety of wildlife

• avoid planting ash, because of ash dieback disease

• use tree guards to protect the trees from browsing animals, such as deer, and grazing animals

• avoid planting or selecting a sapling beneath or near to (around 20m) overhead powerlines

• avoid planting or selecting a sapling where they might obstruct roads, tracks or rights or way

HRW3 requires you to identify a newly established hedgerow tree by tagging it or using another method to identify it clearly. This is so anyone trimming or flailing the hedgerow is aware there are protected trees within the boundary.

To identify each hedgerow tree, you can tag it by:

• using brightly coloured, durable material

• putting a tagged stick near it if a tree is difficult to reach<

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