Improving and expanding hedgerows—Recommendations for a semi‐natural habitat in agricultural landscapes

Abstract

Abstract Hedgerows provide habitat, shelter and resources for many species including functionally important taxa and threatened species. Hedgerows store carbon both above‐ and below‐ground and provide a range of other ecosystem services. Policies incentivizing increases in the extent and quality of hedgerows require evidence to determine how these increases may best support a wide range of taxa and to improve hedgerow habitat quality. Here, available evidence for increasing hedgerow extent and improving their quality is discussed in the context of current conservation policy. Moderate evidence supports a substantial increase in average hedgerow extent from 4.2 km/km2 to around 10 km/km2 in the United Kingdom, to optimize support for many wildlife taxa, habitat connectivity and carbon storage. Evidence also supports the development of wider and structurally denser hedges with more diverse structures and management approaches, and hedgerow networks that are well connected with each other and with other semi‐natural habitats. However, barriers may hinder the implementation of hedgerow policies, and there remain substantive gaps in the evidence base. Knowledge gaps include the current quality or condition of UK hedges, understanding in which landscape contexts new hedges would best be planted to support biodiversity, the role of hedgerows in connectivity as species' ranges change under a future climate, and whether an increase in hedgerow extent might increase the spread of invasive species, tree pests or diseases. These gaps must be filled if conservation policies, including future agri‐environment schemes, are to ensure that hedgerows reach their considerable potential in aiding nature's recovery and addressing climate change.