The Great Glamorgan Way

• By May 2023 the Great Glamorgan Way project will have planted at least 1 mile of native hedgerow in South-Central Wales.
• Our aim is to create green corridors, which will allow wildlife to move through the landscape via a safe network. This will help to increase species distribution and population numbers.
• Creating new hedgerows will also reduce competition for resources by providing more food, shelter and habitat, for flora and fauna.

Wildlife Benefits from Hedgerow Planting

• Endangered hazel dormice require green corridors between woodland fragments to support a viable population.
• Hedgerows provide feeding and nesting sites for 80% of woodland birds.
• Flying invertebrates, such as butterflies, need sheltered conditions and a nectar source, which is provided by hedgerow shrubs and trees.
• Bats use hedgerows for feeding and commuting between feeding sites and roosts. Bats rely on continuous linear features for echolocation at night.
• For more, visit our page on native hedgerow habitats

Landowners Benefit from Hedgerow Planting

• From 2025, Welsh Farmers are required to provide at least 10% tree cover to qualify for public funding.
• Other government funding is also available to Welsh Farmers for the creation and maintenance of hedgerows.
• Hedgerows provide cover for livestock.
• Planting provides support for ‘Wellbeing Wales 2021’ by improving the local environment.

What to Plant

• Bareroot hedgerow whips are normally the cheapest
• They are lifted from the ground from November onwards and should be planted within 2 weeks
• Planting should occur when the trees are dormant (November-February)
• When the trees are dormant during the colder months, they conserve energy. Growth will stop during this time while the roots reach for nutrients. So, planting during November – February will allow the roots to establish well and promote growth in the Spring.

Which Species to Plant

It is best to plant a diverse range of broadleaved species that will provide food, shelter and habitat for biological species, that is native to the UK or your local area. For example:

• Hawthorn (upto 50%) – Crataegus Monogyna
• Hazel – Corylus Avellana
• Blackthorn – Prunus Spinosa
• Common Dogwood – Cornus Sanguinea
• Elder – Sambucus Nigra
• English Oak – Quercus Robur
• Goat Willow – Salix Caprea
• Dogrose – Rosa Canina
• Silver Birch – Betula Pendula
• Crab Apple – Malus Sylvestris
• Holly – Ilex Aquifolium