A new map of England's hedgerows has revealed that if they were lined up end to end, they would stretch almost ten times around the Earth. This comprehensive map, the most detailed to date, provides valuable data for ecologists who hope it will lead to better protections for these important features of the landscape. Hedgerows are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also provide food and shelter for wildlife and store large amounts of carbon. Laser scanning from the air has revealed a total of 390,000 km of hedges in England, with the South West having the largest share.

Dr. Richard Broughton of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, who led the project, stated that England likely has more hedgerows than anywhere else in the world, making it a valuable resource. The national policy is to expand hedgerows, and this map will help identify gaps in the hedgerow network that can be filled in. Hedgerows have been a part of the British countryside since the Bronze Age, serving as boundaries and enclosures for cattle. They are home to hundreds of different plant species and provide shelter for nesting birds, small mammals, and insects. Additionally, they can capture and store significant amounts of carbon.

Unfortunately, about half of Britain's hedgerows were lost between the 1940s and 1990s, primarily in England, due to intensive farming and development. While the rate of loss has slowed since the 1990s, neglect, damage, and removal still pose significant threats. The new map, created using aerial laser scanning called Lidar, provides more detailed information than previous estimates based on field surveys. It calculates that there are 390,000 km of hedgerows in England, ranging in height from 1 to 6 meters. There are also an additional 67,000 km of lower hedges and 185,000 km of overgrown hedges above 6 meters tall.

The map also reveals regional and county-level variations in hedgerow density. The South West has the highest share of hedgerows, while the northeast has the lowest. At the county level, Somerset, Derbyshire, and Cornwall have the highest densities, while Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire have the lowest densities, excluding urban areas. The government has pledged to create or restore 48,000 km of hedgerows by 2037 and 72,000 km by 2050 as part of the new Environmental Improvement Plan.

Overall, this new map provides valuable information about England's hedgerows, highlighting their importance and the need for their protection and expansion.

Original news source: England's hedges would go around Earth ten times (BBC)

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of hedgerow-related words or phrases written on small pieces of paper. One member from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word or phrase without speaking. The team members must guess what the word or phrase is within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– News Summary
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. After each summary, the partner will provide feedback and suggest any important details that were missed. After a few minutes, switch roles and repeat the activity with a different partner.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to hedgerows, such as "Hedgerows are important for wildlife conservation" or "Hedgerows should be protected by law." Have students move to different areas of the classroom to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement. Once everyone has chosen a spot, ask a few students to explain their opinions and encourage a discussion among the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a variety of hedgerow-related vocabulary words or phrases on separate slips of paper. Divide the class into two teams. One member from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a slip of paper. They must then draw a picture to represent the word or phrase while their team tries to guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of hedgerows in England. They should consider factors such as conservation efforts, climate change, and agricultural practices. Each group will then present their predictions to the class, explaining their reasoning and supporting their ideas with evidence from the article.

A new map of England's hedgerows has revealed that if they were lined up end to end, they would stretch almost ten times around the Earth. This comprehensive map, the most detailed to date, ?s valuable data for ecologists who hope it will lead to better protections for these important features of the landscape. Hedgerows are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also provide food and shelter for wildlife and store large amounts of carbon. Laser scanning from the air has revealed a total of 390,000 km of ? in England, with the ? West having the largest share. Dr. Richard Broughton of the UK ? for Ecology and Hydrology, who led the project, stated that ? likely has more hedgerows than anywhere else in the ?, making it a valuable ?. The national ? is to expand hedgerows, and this map will help identify gaps in the hedgerow network that can be filled in. Hedgerows have been a part of the British countryside since the Bronze Age, serving as boundaries and enclosures for cattle. They are home to hundreds of different plant species and provide shelter for nesting birds, small mammals, and insects. Additionally, they can capture and store significant amounts of carbon. Unfortunately, about half of Britain's ? were lost between the 1940s and 1990s, primarily in England, due to intensive farming and development. While the rate of loss has slowed since the 1990s, neglect, damage, and removal still pose significant threats. The new map, created using aerial laser scanning called ?, ? more detailed information than previous ? based on field surveys. It calculates that there are 390,000 km of hedgerows in England, ranging in height from 1 to 6 meters. There are also an additional 67,000 km of lower hedges and 185,000 km of overgrown hedges above 6 meters tall. The map also reveals regional and county-level variations in hedgerow density. The South West has the highest share of hedgerows, while the northeast has the ?. At the county level, Somerset, Derbyshire, and Cornwall have the highest densities, while Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire have the lowest densities, excluding urban areas. The ? has pledged to ? or restore 48,000 km of hedgerows by 2037 and 72,000 km by 2050 as part of the new Environmental Improvement Plan. Overall, this new map provides ? information about England's hedgerows, highlighting their importance and the need for their protection and expansion.

1. What is the purpose of hedgerows in the British countryside?
2. How would you feel if the hedgerows in your country were being lost due to farming and development?
3. Do you think it is important to protect and expand hedgerows? Why or why not?
4. What are some potential benefits of expanding hedgerows?
5. How do you think the loss of hedgerows in England has affected wildlife?
6. Do you have hedgerows in your country? If so, what are they used for?
7. How would you feel if your government pledged to create or restore thousands of kilometers of hedgerows?
8. What steps do you think can be taken to protect hedgerows from neglect, damage, and removal?
9. Why do you think the South West of England has the highest share of hedgerows?
10. How do you think the loss of hedgerows has impacted the aesthetic appeal of the British countryside?
11. Do you think other countries should follow England's lead and create detailed maps of their hedgerows? Why or why not?
12. What role do you think hedgerows play in combating climate change?
13. How do you think the loss of hedgerows has affected the nesting habits of birds?
14. What measures do you think can be taken to encourage farmers and developers to protect hedgerows?
15. How would you feel if the government in your country had a national policy to expand hedgerows?

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