Mixed native hedges are a common sight in the British countryside and are part of our rich heritage. Many have been destroyed in recent years to enable larger machinery to be used on farms. This has meant a reduction in habitat for many wild creatures which are beneficial. Fortunately, many old hedges are being restored and new ones planted, and even if you only have a relatively small garden a native hedge can look very attractive, especially if you back onto open fields.

A native hedge can be kept to a formal shape if clipped regularly, or it can be left to have a wilder look. However cared for, the fact that it is a mixture of plants gives it plenty of interest at different times of the year.

We will select a mixture of native species normally found in established country hedges.

Bare Rooted Seedlings: About half the mixture will be 2-3ft (60-90cm) seedling Quickthorn and the balance selected from 2-3ft (60-90cm) seedling Blackthorn, Field Maple and Spindle, and 1.5-2ft (45-60cm) Dog Rose, Dogwood, Guelder Rose, Hazel and Sweet Briar Rose. Occasionally, we may substitute 2-3ft (60-90cm) Alder Buckthorn, Alder Common, Common Buckthorn, Sea Buckthorn and 1.5-2ft (45-60cm) Wayfaring Tree, or other native hedging plants. If less than 25 plants are ordered there will be a smaller range of varieties.

Bare Rooted Transplants (click here for more details): the mixture will be from the following 2-3ft transplants: Quickthorn, Alder Buckthorn, Alder Common, Common Buckthorn, Dog Rose, Dogwood, Field Maple, Hazel, Spindle and Sweet Briar Rose. Occasionally we may substitute Blackthorn, Guelder Rose, Sea Buckthorn, or other native hedging plants.

Cell Grown Plants (click here for more details), ideal for planting from April to October when bare rooted plants can't be planted. Available in packs of 10, each pack containing 5 Quickthorn, 2 Blackthorn, 1 Dog Rose, 1 Field Maple and 1 Dogwood.

For every 10 yard length of hedge we recommend 25 plants (10 metres = 27 plants), giving an average planting distance of 14ins (35cm) between plants, but be guided by the planting distances listed for individual varieties. For a denser or stock-proof hedge we recommend a double row planted 20ins (50cm) apart, 15ins (38cm) between rows, that is 36 plants for a 10 yard length (40 plants for a 10 metre length)

We are offering this collection of native trees either to plant in existing hedges, to intersperse in new hedges, or to plant in mixed copses. Native trees, especially Oak, can make a valuable contribution to wildlife habitat and some will have an economic value as a source of home grown hardwood.

The basic collection of five trees will be the varieties Common Alder (4-5ft/120-150cm), Wild Cherry (4-5ft/120-150cm), ,English Oak (4-5ft/120-150cm), Mountain Ash (4-5ft/120-150cm) and Field Maple (4-5ft/120-150cm). For orders of 5 or more collections, we shall increase the number of varieties in the collection of 5 trees to include Ash (4-5ft/120-150cm), and Bird Cherry (4-5ft/120-150cm).

Occasionally we may substitute other varieties of native trees. If a customer specifies we can include any native poplars or willows, or the Wild Cherry can be substituted into the basic collection.

A wonderful selection of deciduous plants which will give interest with flowers or foliage all year. In late winter into spring the first flowers to open will be on the Winter Honeysuckle with its 3/4 inch (2cm) long, scented, creamy-white flowers. Then will follow the snowy-white flowers and attractive spring leaf colouring of the Amelanchier, followed by the very many clusters of pale-pink flowers of Deutzia Mont Rose.
In summer the air will be filled with the delicious fragrance of the Mock Orange (Philadelphus Coronarius). In the autumn, the leaves of the Amelanchier will give hues of red, orange and yellow, then all will fall to let the dainty white tinged pink heavily-scented flowers of the Viburnum fragrans show their beauty throughout the winter days.
A collection of 5 plants covers a length of approximately 3m (10ft)

Many evergreen hedges/screens, especially some varieties of conifers, have little seasonal change, but this collection will give contrasts and interest throughout the year.

In May the Berberis darwinii will burst into flower with its rich orange flowers, closely followed by the large bunches of white flowers on the Cotoneaster franchetii, and Pyracantha Orange Glow. Whilst bees continue to buzz and collect nectar from the Cotoneaster, the dainty pink flowers of the Escallonia Donard Seedling will start to appear, and these will persist throughout the summer.

All the year the Photinia fraseri Red Robin will enliven the hedge with its splashes of red on the new foliage. Come autumn, bunches of bright orange berries will be found on the Pyracantha, red berries on the Cotoneaster and blue-black barberries on the Berberis. The barberries you can eat or leave for food for wildlife; and eventually all the other berries will provide more food for birds. During the winter months Viburnum tinus will be displaying its flat heads of white flowers which have opened from pink buds. We may occasionally substitute equally suitable plants in this collection.

A collection of 6 plants covers a length of approximately 4m (12ft)

A Tapestry Hedge is a hedge comprising of different shades of green with splashes of colour interspersed between. It works really well where there is nothing but the hedge, as it makes the hedge colourful without losing its formality. If used with a planted bed in front, the colourful tones in the hedge can be carried down into the planting bed.

The basic green plants in the hedge will be Green Beech (2-3ft/60-90cm), Hornbeam (2-3ft/60-90cm) and Field Maple (2-3ft/60-90cm), which should be planted in groups of at least five. The hedge would be interspersed with two Golden Privet (2-3ft/60-90cm), two Purple Beech (2-3ft/60-90cm) and one Cotoneaster franchetii (1.5-2ft/45-60cm). The first 20ft (7m) of hedge would therefore contain 5 Green Beech, 2 Golden Privet, 5 Hornbeam, 2 Purple Beech, 5 Field Maple and 1 Cotoneaster. For hedges 3ft upwards plant 1ft apart. We may occasionally substitute equally suitable plants in this Tapestry Hedge.

Traditionally countryfolk gathered 'food for free' from woods and hedgerows and there are some fascinating receipes to be found for such fares as Hawthorn Suet Roll made using green hawthorn buds! More usual are sloes from blackthorn, nuts from hazel, rose hips from roses. All the following varieties produce edible fruits:- Amelanchier, Berberis, Blackthorn, Cornelian Cherry, Elder, Elaeagnus ebbingei, Hazel, Japanese Quince, Myrobalan Plum, Quickthorn, Rugosa Roses and Sea Buckthorn. Blackberries can be grown to ramble in existing hedges and raspberries can be planted in a new hedge where they will carry fruit if in a sunny position. Almost all fruit trees can be planted in or alongside a hedge, as well as wild cherries and crab apples.

An edible hedge can be an informal mix of plants, in which case an interesting and informal hedge will be formed, or a single species such as Berberis darwinii can be planted and clipped to a formal shape. With all species you will attract wildlife. Single species are listed in the catalogue, or we can offer our own special mixed edible hedge.

Mixed Edible Hedging The basic hedge is 20 plants for a 30ft hedge (9m) and will consist of 5 Rugosa Rose and 5 Blackthorn with the balance made up from 2 Amelanchier, 2 Cornelian Cherry, 2 Hazel, 2 Myrobalan Plum and 2 Quickthorn, all 2-3ft (60-90cm) transplants exept Myrobalan Plum which will be 2-3ft (60-90cm) seedlings. This will be an attractive hedge with flower, fruit and some good autumn colouring and will be suitable for hedges 4-6ft (120-180cm) high.