Published 18th April 2024 by Chelsea Green Publishing.
From the cover of the book:
In this joyous journey around the wild edges of Britain, Christopher Hart takes us through the life, ecology and history of the humble British hedge, showing us how this much-loved (but somewhat overlooked) feature is inextricably woven into our language, history and culture.Hedges – or hedgerows – have long been an integral part of the British landscape; a bastion of privacy for our gardens, a protective presence on winding country lanes and a vital hiding place for birds and beasts on farmland.
This man-made marvel is finally getting its time in the sun. Recognised as an environmental hero and a powerful climate ally, hedgerow is now considered the greatest edge habitat on earth, offering thorny scrub, mature woodland, grassland and even wetland. It plays a critical role in carbon sequestration and provides essential protection against the elements.
Hedgelands highlights the hawthorn and hazel of ancient hedges; the abundance of wildlife, from the elusive dunnock to the striking nightingale, the industrious hedgehog to the little harvest mouse; and the free pickings that the hedgerow offers, making it an essential – and delicious – element of any countryside ramble.
Hedgelands will tell you everything you never thought you needed to know about this wild, diverse and rich habitat – and you might even look at your humble hedge in a whole new way.
***********
Hedgelands, by novelist Christopher Hart, is a fascinating celebration of the humble British countryside hedge - which you soon learn is not so humble after all...
Hart begins his journey with an introduction about a rewilding project in Wiltshire, at Underhill Wood Nature Reserve, which involved rejuvenating tired hedgerows using age-old traditional hedge-laying and management methods, and resulted in a wondrous explosion of wildlife. He then uses this exciting venture as a spring-board to extol the virtues of our long-suffering hedgerows to explain why, not just preserving them, but re-establishing them across the countryside is something we should be endeavouring to support.
From the history of hedgerows; to planting and managing them; and on to how important they can be in combatting climate change; Hart gives you a lot to consider. The first thing, and perhaps most obvious factor, is the benefit of a well-managed hedgerow to our native flora and fauna - trees, shrubs, flowering plants, fungi, lichen, insects, birds, small mammals, and amphibians... the list of species who can find sanctuary in its leafy environs is extensive, many of which are already threatened by the loss of traditional habitats. Not to mention the vital importance of hedges as 'corridors' via which animal life can move around the countryside.
But there is so much more! Hedgerows are an important food source for wildlife, and for us humans too - foraging has become especially fashionable in recent years, and more hedgerows would provide a valuable resource for those who like to go trudging about the countryside. This is before we even get into the nitty gritty of how important they can be in terms of ecological factors such as acting as 'carbon' banks', and ways to counteract the soil erosion and flooding issues modern farming and housing development methods only make worse.
Hart's enthusiasm is infectious, and this love letter to the British hedge is highly engaging, - especially when it comes to thinking about the things our ancient hedges have been witness to over the years, and the way they are inextricably woven into our social history and language. Parts of this book are a little ambitious for the average suburban gardener, and unless you have an acre or two to spare the details about managing hedges might not be something you will find yourself getting involved with. However, this book really does make you think about how you can improve areas of your own garden to be more welcoming to wildlife in a hedgerow fashion. There are definitely things we can all do, however small. Highly recommended if you love well written nature books that inform just as much as they entertain.
Hedgelands is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio book formats.
About the author:
Christopher Hart's latest novel is Lost Children, published by Prospero Books. His previous titles include The Harvest and Rescue Me. His historical fiction, written under the pen name of William Napier, includes Julia, and the best-selling Attila trilogy and Last Crusaders trilogy.
His work has been praised in a range of publications, including both the Times Literary Supplement and the Sunday Sport, which is unusual.
He is married and lives in Wiltshire. When not writing he prefers to be outdoors - ideally up a mountain.
No comments:
Post a Comment