We are managing our hedges to allow them to broaden out and gain some height.  We will steep in time.    In Autumn there are plenty of nuts, berries, hips and haws on offer as a food source for wildlife.  

Hazel, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Gorse are creeping into the field margins and broadening out our hedges.  Broader hedges offer lots more small niches for birds, insects and small mammals to nest, shelter and feed in and are great for bats to hunt along.  We have left plenty of standard trees to select from when we are ready to decide which will go to maturity and which will be harvested.  These taller trees give structure to the hedge, shade for livestock and perching places for birds.