Four Parishes Research history in hedges

History in hedges

More than anything else, it is probably the pattern of fields and hedges that most people think of as being typical of the countryside. Of course, in some parts of the country many hedges have disappeared, in response to the demands of large machines and changing farming practices. However, in our part of Shropshire hedges, although reduced in numbers, are still plentiful. The importance of hedges to the natural environment is well known; they are home to many plants and animals and increase the variety of wildlife in the countryside. However, they are also important to historians and archaeologists.

Back in 1970, Dr Max Hooper proposed that it was possible to date hedges by counting the number of species; each plant in a 100 foot length of hedge represented about 100 years. This relationship arose because in the area in which he was working, hedges were only planted with a single species; one new species would typically spread into a 100 foot section every century. There is no doubt that up to a point, this simple relationship works over large parts of southern England. However, within a few years it became apparent that there were other parts of the country where it did not hold true, including Shropshire. Here hedges were planted with a mixture of species and so the technique would not work, at least as Hooper originally proposed.

Back in 1996, a group lead by Dr Jan Ensum, obtained funding to carry out a survey of hedges in Highley. They were able to hire a professional ecologist, Dr Ed Mountford, to co-ordinate the work and analyse the findings. A group of about 10 volunteers recording not only the number of species but the type and features such as the number of gaps and the presence of trees and hedge banks. Almost 300 hedges were recorded; probably 75% of all those in the village. This remains one of the most comprehensive surveys of hedges within a single parish that has ever been undertaken.

The problem with recording 300 hedges (nearly 30 miles!) is that it generates a vast amount of data. Whilst Ed was able to produce a summary of the findings very quickly, the detailed analysis took several years, as it was necessary to research the history of each hedge so that could be correlated with the species it contained. As expected, Hooper’s rule did not apply; the hedge’s of Highley were extremely diverse. However, it became apparent that it was possible to get a rough date for the hedge by other means. Two factors seemed to indicate medieval hedges. Those that were extremely species-rich (seven or more species/100 feet) all seemed to be very old. Secondly, several species, especially Lime and Wild Service, seemed to be restricted to very old hedges. These seem to “woodland relic” hedges; formed by medieval farmers when they cleared natural forest to form the first fields in the village.

Based on these results, as part of the Local Heritage Initiative project, the Four Parishes Heritage Group will be recording hedges in parts of Kinlet, Billingsley and Stottesdon. For this we need volunteers! No experience is necessary, we will provide training in recognising common hedge plants (there are only about a dozen!).