CPRE Oxfordshire

THE Government has announced an ambitious target to create or restore 30,000 miles of hedgerows a year by 2037 and 45,000 miles a year by 2050 under the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.

These targets underpin efforts to restore the UK’s hedgerow network and put farmers at the heart of plans to reconnect and re-establish the country’s largest nature reserve. CPRE Oxfordshire hopes the county’s hedgerows will benefit.

We have been campaigning for government to restore hedgerows by 40 per cent by 2050 for two years.

This target was initially recommended by the independent climate change committee and is equivalent to about 120,000 miles, or halfway to the moon.

CPRE Oxfordshire and Wild Oxfordshire launched Hedgerow Heroes in 2020 and have worked with community groups and parish councils in Watlington, Eynsham and Kidlington to plant new and rejuvenate existing hedgerows.

In March 2022, George Eustice, the then secretary of state visited a community planting project in Watlington. Our thanks to all those who have supported our hedgerow campaign, including residents who signed our national petition.

CPRE Oxfordshire is looking to continue our Hedgerow Heroes project and would be pleased to hear from schools and community groups that have land available where they might want to plant or restore a hedgerow.

The charity is currently collecting expressions of interest for a possible project later this year.

Julia Benning