Hedgerow Heroes Herefordshire: 2024 - 2026

Since launching in autumn 2024, CPRE Herefordshire’s Hedgerow Heroes project has planted and restored 13.08km of hedgerow across the county over two seasons: 3.7km in 2024-2025 and a further 9.38km in 2025-2026. Over two hundred volunteers, farmers, landowners, schools and community groups have taken part.

The importance of hedgerows:

Did you know, since 1945 England has lost over half of its hedgerows which are vital for nature, bursting with life. Hedgerows support one in ten of the UK’s vulnerable species, including the hazel dormouse and the beloved hedgehog, whose decline is closely linked to hedgerow loss. The lines of hedges crisscrossing our countryside act as wildlife corridors, linking habitats together and providing safe movement for many scurrying, flying and scuttling animals such as endangered dormice and rare brown hairstreak butterflies. You can find out more about the history of hedges here. Hedgelink also has some fantastic resources about hedgerows and hedgerow maintenance available here.

Season one, 2024-2025: laying the groundwork

Hedgerow Heroes is part of a wider CPRE project launched in 2021 to support the national campaign to increase England’s hedgerow network by 40% by 2050. Before this season began, the project had already seen 75.6km of hedgerow rejuvenated or created nationally. In Herefordshire, phase four started in autumn 2024, with a target of planting at least 2.5km of new hedgerow by the end of March 2025.

Volunteers, farmers and partners went on to plant and restore 3,714m (2.3 miles), well ahead of that target, across nine sites in the county. More than a hundred volunteers took part, including staff from the Environment Agency and Semperian Asset Management, alongside students from Holme Lacy Agricultural College, who joined hedge planting sessions as part of their studies. CPRE Herefordshire also began building a relationship with QE Secondary School in Bromyard.

Three two-day hedgelaying courses ran that winter, led by Richard Clarke of Really Rural, giving volunteers hands-on experience in this traditional country craft. Sponsors including Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, Westons Cider, Shepherds Ice Cream and Border Oak, along with private donors, helped raise £4,930 through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, and the Tree Council donated plants, guards and canes that helped the project exceed its target.

The season closed with a Hedgerow Heroes Celebration Day on 10th July 2025, marking the contribution of volunteers to this project and the River Wye Citizen Science project. Long-standing volunteers Derek, Margaret and Rob were recognised with CPRE awards for their commitment, having each joined nearly 75% of planting days.

Find our more about our first season in our short film below:

Season two, 2025-2026: building momentum

Running from November 2025 to April 2026, the second season saw 9.38km of hedgerow planted and restored: 7,900m of new hedgerow, 1,274m of gapping up existing hedges, and 203m of hedgelaying. This was made possible by our volunteers, our main funder and the Tree Council, whose donation came through the National Highways Community Trees programme.

Seven hands-on hedgelaying courses ran during the season, restoring 203m of hedgerow, again led by Richard Clarke of Really Rural. These courses were part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with support from Herefordshire Council, helping pass on traditional hedgelaying skills to more people.

CPRE Herefordshire also held three well-attended talks in 2025: with the Weobley branch of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust on 2nd October, the Almeley Green Group on 13th October, and the Ross branch of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust on 7th November. Partnerships with Holme Lacy Agricultural College and QE Bromyard Secondary School continued, alongside free downloadable classroom resources for KS1 and KS2 pupils (available here).

Two seasons, one impact

Together, the first two seasons have added 13.08km of hedgerow to Herefordshire’s landscape. England has lost more than half its hedgerows since 1945, and these living boundaries support around one in ten of the UK’s vulnerable species, including the hazel dormouse and the hedgehog, whose decline is closely linked to hedgerow loss.

Based on Hedgelink data, season two’s planting alone is expected to offset around 7.2 tonnes of CO2e a year, rising to roughly 10 tonnes a year when combined with season one, and projected to lock away over 100 tonnes of CO2e over 20 years. Every metre planted also sits within the River Wye or River Lugg catchment, two of England’s most ecologically stressed rivers, where a well-managed hedge and its grass margin help filter agricultural run-off, a major contributor to the phosphorus pollution affecting the Wye.

What is Hedgerow Heroes and what has it achieved in Herefordshire?

Hedgerow Heroes is a CPRE Herefordshire project restoring and expanding the county’s hedgerow network. Across its first two seasons, from autumn 2024 to spring 2026, it planted and restored 13.08km of hedgerow with the help of over a hundred volunteers, farmers, schools and community groups.

Hedgerow Heroes is now in its third season, running from late October 2026 to April 2027. Visit our current Hedgerow Heroes page for the latest news, or sign up to volunteer with us.