Tregoniggie Woodland, Falmouth volunteers build Cornish hedge

Thanks to the Making Space for Nature Project, funding was allocated for training up volunteers to repair and rebuild some of the many hundreds of metres of Cornish hedges in the woodland.

Organised by Karen Hall of Making Space for Nature and with expert tuition provided by Ryan, a professional Cornish hedger, the volunteers learned all about the proper way to lay the granite stones that form the main structure of the hedge.

As the name suggests, Cornish hedges are unique to Cornwall. As well as forming a distinctive structure in the landscape, Cornish hedges provide a key habitat for many different types of wildlife.

The volunteers get to grips with the Cornish hedge

“This spring, we had two pairs of blue tits nesting in a new section of Cornish hedge that Ryan had rebuilt during the winter” commented Euan McPhee, Chair of the Friends of Tregoniggie Woodland. “This is real proof of the value of these types of hedge. Other species, such as bumblebees, love to make their homes in the crevices between the stones that make up the hedge.”

Whilst there are many more metres of hedge to restore in Tregoniggie Woodland, now that there is a core of trained volunteers, the work can continue over the following months and years. “Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither were all the Cornish hedges we see about us” said Euan.

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Several of the volunteers commented at how satisfying it was to gradually see a newly construct hedge emerge from a pile of granite rocks and soil.

If anyone is interested in getting involved in this kind of work, or any of the other tasks that the Friends undertake as part of their role in looking after the woodland, check out the Friends Facebook page for further information here