Staffordshire Wildlife Trust have kindly been given funds through CPRE Staffordshire to plant 100 metres of new hedgerow in two locations near the Cory Community Centre on Highgate Common.
Hedgerows are more than just living fences, they’re actually a bustling habitat all of their own and provide a natural green corridor for many species of insect, bird, small mammal, and of course flora and fungi too.
The foundation of a good hedgerow, like most habitats, is a diverse range of plant species that provide food and shelter to other creatures. Hedgerow tree species like hawthorn, willow, crab apple, wild pear, dog rose, and blackthorn will create a wonderful place thick with foliage cover for the bugs and birds that use the common.
Once established, the hedgerow will provide vital nectar and pollen resources for the early emerging insects come spring, which in turn will help the birds and mammals. This is especially important at Highgate as this nature reserve is home to more than 140 types of solitary bees and wasps who rely not only on the sandy soils of the heathland, but also flowering plants for food. The heathland habitat attracts a variety of wildlife and hedgerows in the local area provide that vital connecting corridor between different habitats and the farmland nearby.
During warmer months, shade cast by the hedgerow will provide an important form of shelter in times of drought caused by extreme heat. Conversely, during times of serious flooding, the root systems of the hedge will absorb water from the ground.
