How colourful are your hedges?

At last there are signs of spring appearing in the countryside. Woodland and hedgerow flowers are beginning to make the most of the increasing day length to flower and set seed before they are shaded out by trees and shrubs later in the spring. An easy way to carry out a quick environmental health check on your farm is to count the number of different wild flowers you can find at the bottom of your hedges in spring and early summer.

First to show are the primroses with their beautiful pale yellow petals and darker yellow centres, which help to guide insects to the source of pollen. Primroses are an important source of food for emerging insects at this time of year. Less common than primroses are wood anemones, star shaped, white petalled flowers with a yellow centre and delicate fern-like foliage. Wood anemones are related to the garden varieties but are very much a native woodland plant and a sign that your woodland was established a long time ago.

These flowers and other woodland and hedgerow species such as bluebell, wood sorrel and wild garlic are only found at the base of hedges that have been kept free of slurry, fertilisers and pesticides. Most wild flowers have adapted to grow in soils that are low in fertility. If soil nitrogen levels are raised, wildflowers will be unable to compete with faster growing grasses, nettles and docks.

Leaving a margin of at least one metre at the base of the hedge free of slurry, fertilisers and pesticides when spreading or spraying will allow this valuable and attractive habitat to flourish. For further information on management of hedgerows or woodland, contact Countryside Management staff at your local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development office.