Best plants for a wildlife hedge
Mixed hedgerows are a familiar sight along country roads and farmland, but you can recreate this valuable habitat in your own garden.
A wildlife hedge can provide nectar-rich flowers for pollinators, leaves for caterpillars, fruit and nuts for birds and mammals, and dense shelter throughout the year. Planting several species creates a longer season of food and greater variety than a single-species hedge.
Here are six of the best plants to include.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is one of the most valuable plants for a wildlife hedge. Its dense, thorny growth provides shelter and secure nesting places for garden birds.
Clusters of white flowers attract pollinators in spring, followed by red fruits known as haws in autumn. These provide food for birds and small mammals.
Blackthorn
Blackthorn produces white blossom before its leaves emerge, providing an important source of early nectar and pollen.
Its thorny branches create excellent cover for wildlife, while its blue-black fruits, known as sloes, are eaten by birds and mammals during autumn.
Blackthorn can spread through suckers, so allow it plenty of room and manage new growth where necessary.
Hazel
Hazel produces catkins in late winter and early spring, offering an early source of pollen.
Its leaves support a variety of moth caterpillars, while hazelnuts provide food for mice, squirrels and birds including jays, woodpeckers and nuthatches.
Hazel also responds well to pruning and can add height and structure to a mixed hedge.
Wayfaring tree
Wayfaring tree, or Viburnum lantana, is a deciduous native shrub with clusters of small white flowers.
The flowers attract pollinating insects, including hoverflies, while the berries provide autumn food for birds. Its dense growth also offers useful shelter and nesting cover.
Buckthorn
Common buckthorn, or Rhamnus cathartica, is especially valuable because its leaves are a principal food plant for brimstone butterfly caterpillars.
Its small flowers support pollinators during spring, followed by glossy black berries that birds eat in autumn and winter. Its dense growth makes it another useful choice for shelter and nesting.
Honeysuckle
Once your hedge is established, add native honeysuckle, or Lonicera periclymenum, to climb through the branches.
Its fragrant flowers attract bees and night-flying moths, while its red berries provide food for birds later in the year. The foliage and woody growth also create additional shelter and nesting material.
Give honeysuckle enough room to grow without allowing it to overwhelm younger hedging plants.
Create a hedge that supports wildlife
For the greatest wildlife value, combine several compatible species and allow the hedge to develop into a dense, varied structure.
Avoid cutting every section at the same time, check carefully for active bird nests before pruning and leave some berries and nuts for wildlife wherever possible.
Visit Coletta & Tyson Garden Centre in Woodmansey, near Beverley and Hull, to explore our seasonal range of hedging plants and receive advice from our friendly team.