A Guide to Wildlife-Friendly Hedging

A native hedge is one of the very best things you can plant for British wildlife. Where a fence is a dead end, a mixed native hedge is a living larder and a wildlife corridor — blossom for pollinators, berries for birds, and dense cover for nesting and shelter. Here is how to plant a wildlife-friendly hedge, and the best native plants to use.

Why plant a wildlife hedge?

• Food — spring blossom feeds bees and butterflies; autumn berries feed birds and small mammals through winter.
• Shelter & nesting — dense, thorny growth gives birds safe places to nest and hide.
• A wildlife corridor — hedges link up habitats, letting wildlife move safely across the landscape.
• Year-round beauty — blossom, berries, autumn colour and a haven of birdsong.

The best native plants for a wildlife hedge

• Hawthorn — the backbone of any wildlife hedge: blossom, haws for the birds, and dense thorny cover. See hawthorn hedging.
• Hazel — catkins in late winter and nuts loved by mammals and birds.
• Blackthorn — early blossom for pollinators and sloes in autumn.
• Dog rose — scented flowers and bright rosehips.
• Guelder rose — lacecap flowers, glistening red berries and fiery autumn colour.
• Holly — evergreen cover and winter berries. Browse holly hedging.
• Hornbeam and field maple — great native structure that holds leaves and supports insects.

The trick is to mix several species — a varied hedge supports far more wildlife than a single-species one, and looks beautiful through every season.

How and when to plant a native hedge

Native hedging is best planted bare-root, between November and March — it is excellent value and establishes brilliantly. Plant a double, staggered row at around five plants per metre for a dense wildlife hedge, mixing your chosen species along the row. Water well in the first couple of summers and mulch to suppress weeds.

Looking after a wildlife hedge

Cut wildlife hedges in late winter (never during the March–August nesting season — see our guide on when to cut hedges), and only every couple of years where you can, so flowers and berries have a chance to form. A slightly looser, informal hedge is far richer for wildlife than a tightly clipped one.

Wildlife hedge FAQs

What is the best hedge for wildlife?
A mixed native hedge based on hawthorn, with hazel, blackthorn, dog rose, guelder rose and holly, supports the most wildlife — food, shelter and nesting all year.

What hedge is best for birds?
Berrying natives like hawthorn, holly, guelder rose and dog rose provide autumn and winter food, while dense, thorny growth offers safe nesting.

When should I plant a wildlife hedge?
Between November and March, using bare-root plants — great value and quick to establish.

Plant a hedge for wildlife

We grow a wide range of native hedging plants perfect for a wildlife hedge, all UK-grown. Browse the collection or get in touch for help planning a hedge that buzzes and sings with life.