Synopsis:

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.

Review:

I love our UK habitats and hedges are no exception! If you have even a smidge of interest in the nature of the UK I encourage you to pick this one up!

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book. As the owner of a Devon hedge, I love these special habitats anyway, but after reading this book I appreciate them on another level, and I learned I knew a lot less about them than I thought I did! Who knew we used to have tree frogs??

Here in the UK we are one of the most nature-impoverished nations, and our poor hedges are in serious disarray. This book acts as a call to arms for us to reclaim and restore these amazing, often overlooked habitats. The sections on just how to lay and maintain a hedge I found really interesting – this is where I learned the most and found myself wanting to rush outside and improve my own!

I loved the way Christopher Hart wrote about the hedgerow in this book. His passion was clear and I really enjoyed the little touches of humour and folk-knowledge sprinkled through. The information is presented in a really accessible way. Anyone could pick this book up and find it easy to follow and learn a whole lot in the process. I highly, highly recommend!

Thank you so much to @chelseagreenbooks for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.