A mixed hedgerow is often seen along country roads or marking boundaries on farmland, but there's no reason you can't recreate this valuable habitat in your garden. A native mixed hedge offers flowers for pollinators, leaves for caterpillars, fruit or nuts for birds and small mammals, and shelter for a wide variety of species.

HAWTHORN

Hawthorn is an excellent hedging plant, with its thorny, dense growth providing ideal nesting sites for birds. It also produces flowers for pollinators and red berries, known as haws, in autumn, which are a favourite food for birds and small mammals.

BLACKTHORN

The sloe, or blackthorn, is a shrubby tree that flowers early in the year, making it an excellent source of early nectar and pollen for pollinators. Similar to hawthorn, it offers great nesting sites for birds and is covered in sloes, which are enjoyed by birds and other wildlife.

HAZEL

Hazel catkins appear in late winter and early spring, providing an early pollen source for pollinators. The nuts and leaves are valuable to wildlife—many moth caterpillars feed on the leaves, which also offer nourishment for small mammals and birds. Small mammals like mice and squirrels eat hazelnuts, as do woodpeckers, nuthatches, and jays.

WAYFARING-TREE

Viburnum lantana, also known as the wayfaring-tree, attracts hoverflies with its clusters of small white flowers, while birds benefit from the berries and shelter it provides.

BUCKTHORN

Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), resembling dogwoods, is a deciduous tree that is the primary food source for the brimstone butterfly. With its thick, dense growth, it provides excellent nesting sites for birds. In spring, it produces small, inconspicuous flowers for pollinators, followed by glossy black berries that birds feed on in autumn and winter.

HONEYSUCKLE

Once your wildlife hedge is established, consider adding native climbing plants like honeysuckle. Its leaves provide food for the 20-plume moth, while its fragrant flowers attract bees and moths. The late-summer berries are enjoyed by birds and small mammals, and dormice use the thin, flaky bark for their summer nests.

January 28, 2025