Ancient British farming craft returns as 2,500 farmers revive 1,300km of hedgerows for wildlife, floods

It's seeing a revival and how. The ancient craft of hedge laying is back in trend among farmers as they are using the technique dating back to 18th and 19th centuries in order to boost wildlife, capture carbon and help tackle flooding. Hedge laying which restores and revives mature hedges to keep them fresh was among the four most popular categories of capital grants selected by farmers out of a total pot of £225m provided by the government this year to support practical environmental improvements on farms and across the countryside.The 2,500 farmers across England who applied for grants to restore and maintain their mature hedgerows using the craft that dates back to thousands of year will lay 1,300 km of mature hedgerows, if the grants are approved. According to Megan Gimber, the key habitats officer for the People's Trust for Endangered Species said that hedge laying was one of the most effective tools farmers had to respond to the climate crisis. “Hedge laying really stopped after the war, so it has been over a generation since it was a normal part of farm management and we have seen a huge decline in hedgerows as a result,” she said.“These grants will give 1,300km of potential...