A wildlife corridor is a strip of habitat – such as water, grassland, or hedgerows – that connects wildlife populations which would be otherwise separated by roads or cultivated land. They enable greater diversity, interspersing, and reproduction potential for wildlife in the areas they connect.
Farms are the primary place you could see hedgerows as wildlife corridors. They enable expansive, gridlike connections across your land, which can link up dozens or even hundreds of otherwise separate habitats. As a result, birds, insects, and wildlife of all kinds can flourish – leading to a positive impact on your local environment.
Preventing Soil Erosion and Protecting Farmland
Hedgerows are typically planted at the edges of roads or fields – places that also often feature embankments. They often have dense roots, or are interspersed with trees. This means they act as barriers against erosion, with their roots holding the soil in place and preventing subsidence into fields or the road.
For farms, this prevents shrinkage for your fields or damage to crops and livestock via erosion. For Road Management providers and Local Authorities, this also serves to minimise expensive repairs and redirections required when erosion renders a road unusable. A simple hedgerow, planted and maintained down the side of your farm or road, is enough to prevent a lot of heartache and hassle.
