Fences: a sign of creeping urbanisation > plant more hedges

Hedges are good against flooding:
Futures Forum: Devonshire hedgerows: Increasing the value of hedges for wildlife with relaxed cutting regimes

And they are good for wildlife:
Futures Forum: Reducing flooding by planting trees and hedgerows

The chair of the Sidmouth Arboretum wrote this piece to the editor of the Herald recently, extolling the virtues of the hedge, rather than the fence:


FENCES a sign of creeping urbanisation

We applaud the plea from Ken Watson (Letters November 18) to plant more hedges. 

Hedges instead of fences are a huge benefit for wildlife, and for our human environment. They are much more attractive to the eye, help absorb some of recent torrential rain, and don’t blow over in last weekend’s gales. 

The Arboretum can supply hedge plants in a variety of styles for next to nothing – given enough notice. We work to maintain and improve our green infrastructure, so please choose trees – and hedges.

Diana East

Breaking news & sport in Sidmouth | Sidmouth Herald

What is the current situation when it comes to 'planning rules and hedges'?

It is currently OK to pull up a hedge:
Planning Permission | Fences, gates and garden walls | Planning Portal

Although some years ago, there were attempts to give hedges the same status as fences when it comes to planning permission:
Sitting on the fence - Telegraph

Nevertheless, there are Neighbourhood Plans which stipulate protection of hedges: (page 17) http://www.lewes.gov.uk/Files/Plan_Newick_Neighbourhood_Plan_Adopted_July_2015.pdf

This is all about ‘green infrastructure’:
Green Infrastructure | Planning Practice Guidance

For example (page 65):

Hedges, Fences & Boundary Improvements 

There are many examples where poor fencing or other boundary treatment can have an adverse impact on the riverside environment. To make the most of their riverside setting many properties will benefit by being left open to their river frontage without any boundary treatment. 

• Properties which require some form of boundary for security or privacy reasons should consider natural landscape strips or hedging. If more secure treatment is necessary then fences or walls must be set back from the riverbank to allow for access for maintenance and for the establishment of screen planting. 

• Where fence options are used, those with wide gaps/ spaces are encouraged to allow uninterrupted access to the watercourse and along the river corridor for wildlife.

http://www.wantageneighbourhoodplan.org/images/WantageSubmissionPlan_v1.3reduced.pdf
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