Hedgerow and
scrub
We manage, restore, and plant hedgerows and scrub across Wadhurst Park to support biodiversity and strengthen habitat connectivity.
These transitional habitats provide vital shelter, food, and nesting sites for birds, pollinators, and small mammals. Traditional techniques such as hedge-laying and rotational cutting help maintain structure and species diversity. Scrub is allowed to develop naturally in some areas, creating valuable edge habitats between woodland and open grassland. New hedgerows are planted to reconnect fragmented landscapes, forming wildlife corridors that link meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. Together, hedgerows and scrub play a key role in our mosaic of habitats across the estate.
Hedgerow and scrub
At Wadhurst Park we have over 40km of hedgerows. Hedgerows are a vital part of the landscape, providing food, shelter, and corridors for birds, pollinators, and small mammals. We manage our hedgerows using traditional techniques, including rotational cutting on a three-year cycle, which maintains a variety of growth stages and ensures year-round habitat value. In some areas, we allow hedgerows to grow out naturally, creating tall, wider and wilder corridors for wildlife.
Hedge-laying is used to rejuvenate older hedges, encouraging dense, wildlife-friendly growth at the base while preserving the structure and character of the landscape. These practices help hedgerows remain healthy, resilient, and ecologically rich. We employ traditional hedge laying practice as well as conservation hedge laying.
Alongside restoration, we also plant new hedgerows to reconnect fragmented habitats and strengthen the mosaic of meadows, woodlands, and wetlands across the estate. We use the 1870s OS maps to guide our planting, recreating the old field boundaries.
This varied approach ensures our hedgerows remain ecologically rich and resilient across different stages of growth and structure.
Scrub is often overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity. As a transitional habitat between grassland and woodland, scrub provides shelter, nesting sites, and food for a wide range of species — including birds, small mammals, invertebrates, and reptiles. It also contributes to structural diversity across the landscape, offering dense cover and edge habitats that many species rely on.
At Wadhurst Park, we manage scrub on rotation, allowing areas to regenerate naturally while preventing encroachment into open habitats and important grasslands. This rotational approach maintains a mix of young growth and mature stands, supporting species at different life stages and creating a dynamic, wildlife-rich environment.
Scrub is an essential part of our habitat mosaic, linking meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. In some areas, we allow scrub to develop freely, encouraging natural succession and providing valuable habitat for species such as nightingales, hazel dormice, and gatekeeper butterflies. By managing scrub thoughtfully, we ensure it remains a resilient and ecologically rich component of the wider landscape.
