Creating wildlife corridors at Keyham Green Places

With the bank already cleared of ivy and brambles by community volunteers, the eager students got stuck in planting a range of native trees perfect for hedgerows such as Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Spindle.

Known as 'whips', these young trees were donated by Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest. With a bit of maintenance and care, the whips will grow into strong young trees which can then be laid after 8-10 years. Hedgelaying is an important and ancient rural skill which manages hedgerows to create dense, living hedges.

Hedgerows can be seen criss-crossing our natural landscapes and are incredibly important for wildlife. They are a vital source of food and shelter for some of our most vulnerable animals. Hibernating hedgehogs, nesting birds and dormice all call hedgerows their home. Most importantly, hedgerows provide a wildlife corridor, helping our species move through our landscapes safely, and connecting green spaces. We hope that in future the new hedgerow will provide shelter and safety to many plants and animals.

A huge thank you to Marjon University students and Keyham Green Places for their support.