Traditional Field Boundaries

A project to restore much of the traditional stone walls at Cannon was undertaken in 1997. The walls had, over a period of time, fallen into disrepair. The restored walls maintain the traditional landscape but also provide valuable shelter for livestock and home to small mammals and insects.

Hedgerows provide a home for the tree sparrow, yellowhammer and many other birds, a feeding ground for the lesser horseshoe bat and cover for the brown hare. Post war agricultural policies have encouraged farmers to produce more and more food. So successful have they been that overproduction has become a problem in recent years, at the same time the wildlife of farmland has suffered sustained losses. 25% of the UK's old hedgerows have been lost since 1990.

In the early 90's we entered into the hedgerow rejuvenation scheme and re-established and managed existing hedges at Cannon. Under the Tir Gofal scheme we have increased the amount of hedges being managed for environmental and wildlife benefit. This includes double fencing, coppicing and replanting where necessary. In the future we will be laying the hedges in a rotation to ensure that the food supply and cover given to birds is at varying stages of development.

BACK TO WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION