Why plant a bareroot hedge?

As the UK faces increasing challenges from climate change, habitat loss and declining biodiversity, planting hedges has never been more important. Hedges are far more than simple boundary markers.

They are living ecosystems that provide shelter for wildlife, absorb carbon, improve soil health and help create a greener countryside. When it comes to establishing a new hedge, bareroot hedging plants offer one of the most cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions available.

The importance of UK hedgerows

Hedgerows have been a defining feature of the British landscape for centuries. Traditionally used to mark field boundaries and contain livestock, they now play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and protecting the environment.

A healthy native hedge provides food, nesting sites and shelter for a wide range of species, including birds, insects, mammals and pollinators. Species such as blackbirds, robins, hedgehogs, bees and butterflies all benefit from the protection offered by dense hedgerows.

In addition to supporting wildlife, hedges help:

• Reduce soil erosion by stabilising the ground with their root systems.
• Improve water management by slowing surface runoff and reducing flooding.
• Filter pollutants from the air and water.
• Create wildlife corridors that connect fragmented habitats.
• Improve the appearance and character of rural and urban landscapes.

How hedges can help combat climate change

Planting hedges is a simple but effective way to support climate action at a local level.

Carbon capture and storage

Like trees, hedges absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. They store carbon in their stems, branches, roots and surrounding soil. While an individual hedge may seem small, large-scale hedge planting across the UK can make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration.

Flood prevention

Extreme weather events and heavier rainfall are becoming more common due to climate change. Hedgerows slow the movement of water across the landscape, helping to reduce flood risk and allowing more water to soak naturally into the soil.

Climate resilience

Hedges act as natural windbreaks, reducing wind speed and protecting crops, livestock and gardens from harsh weather conditions. They can also create cooler microclimates during periods of extreme heat, helping plants and wildlife adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Supporting biodiversity

Climate change places additional pressure on wildlife populations. Diverse native hedges provide vital habitats that allow species to move, feed and reproduce more successfully as environmental conditions change.

Bareroot hedging

Autumn is the ideal time for planning and ordering bareroot trees and saplings.

Bareroot plants are grown in open fields and lifted during dormancy between November and March. They require no plastic pots and have lower production and transportation impacts, making them a sustainable and cost-effective solution for commercial and amenity planting schemes.

Because bareroot plants are planted during dormancy, they focus their energy on developing strong root systems before producing new growth in spring.

This often results in:

• Faster establishment.
• Better adaptation to local soil conditions.
• Stronger long-term growth.
• Improved drought resilience.

The long-term benefits of planting a hedge

A well-maintained hedge can last for generations. Over time it becomes increasingly valuable as a habitat, carbon store and landscape feature.

Whether planted around a garden, farm, school, community project or commercial development, a hedge offers benefits that extend far beyond its initial purpose. It creates a lasting legacy that supports wildlife, improves environmental health and contributes to the UK’s wider efforts to tackle climate change.

Conclusion

Bareroot hedging represents one of the most sustainable and cost-effective ways to establish a new hedge in the UK. It provides excellent value, reduced environmental impact and strong long-term growth while helping to create habitats that benefit both wildlife and people.

At a time when biodiversity loss and climate change are major concerns, planting native bareroot hedges is a practical action that delivers real environmental benefits. Every hedge planted contributes to a greener, healthier and more resilient future for the UK.