Boosting hedgerows by 40 per cent could help nature and economy

A new CPRE report investigates the huge environmental and economic benefits of hedgerows and shows that boosting them by 40 per cent would yield almost £4 for every £1 invested.

The countryside charity is urging the government to set a target to increase the hedgerow network by 40 per cent by 2050, as recommended by the climate change committee – a win-win-win for climate, nature and the economy.

The research suggests that investing in 40 per cent more hedgerows would support around 25,000 full-time equivalent jobs in hedgerow planting and management over the next 30 years across both rural and urban areas.

For every £1 invested in hedgerows, as much as £3.92 is generated in the wider economy due to key environmental and economic benefits provided by hedgerows. CPRE says that local authorities can support community groups to plant more hedgerows while farmers can help by letting hedgerows grow taller and bushier.

Crispin Truman, CPRE’s chief executive, said: “Half of our precious hedgerows have been ripped from the landscape since the second world war and we’ve seen a huge decline in nature and soaring carbon emissions. There’s a lot of work to do. We’re calling on ministers to set a target to increase the hedgerow network by 40 per cent by 2050 with improved protection for existing hedgerows. This would be seen as a bold step by the UK government in the lead up to hosting the international climate summit to support nature’s recovery, help grow us out of the economic downturn and tackle the climate emergency head-on.”