Volunteers Complete 15-Mile Hedge Linking England’s National Parks
Why this is here: The hedge physically links two national parks, addressing habitat connectivity challenges in a densely populated area of southern England.
Volunteers finished planting a 15-mile hedge connecting South Downs and New Forest National Parks in Hampshire, England. The “Hampshire Hedge” project took three years to complete. It unites previously fragmented hedgerows into a continuous line.
The hedge provides a habitat corridor for roughly 2,000 species. These include mice, hedgehogs, insects, and birds. It functions as a natural highway for wildlife moving between the two parks.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s “Hedgerows Heroes” program led the effort. Support came from conservation nonprofits and the UK’s National Lottery Heritage Fund. A celebration called “Hedgefest” marked the project’s completion and CPRE’s 100th anniversary.