Hedgerow Loss (Hansard, 6 March 1997)

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)

The latest survey into changes in countryside hedgerows in England and Wales, which was undertaken by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, covered the years 1990 to 1993. This showed that an average of 2,300 miles of hedgerows were lost due to outright removal per year, whilst an average of 2,700 miles of new hedgerows were planted per year, giving an approximate average gain of some 500 miles of hedgerows per year.

The figures for "neglect" cover a variety of circumstances, such as hedges which have been allowed to overgrow in an unmaintained condition, hedges which have developed gaps, thereby resulting in non continuous hedge lines, and hedges which have been replaced by fencing.

The survey showed that an average annual rate of 18,100 miles of hedgerows were lost as a result of management neglect, while an average of 7,300 miles of hedgerows were restored per year. The survey also showed that hedgerows were lost to the countryside at an average rate of 1,100 miles per year due to the development of buildings.

In Scotland, the latest date for which a survey was carried out covered the years between 1973 and 1988. This indicated that rather less than 250 miles of hedgerows on average were lost each year.

Responsibility for operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's interest in hedgerows has been delegated to the Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Moran from the Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service, Mr. Robert C. Martin, dated 26 February 1997.

I regret that we do not have the information which you request for Northern Ireland. Between 1986 and 1991 we commissioned a number of surveys which together formed the Northern Ireland Countryside Survey. Although sample-based, this work gives us a good picture of the extent and condition of a range of field boundary types. It is proposed to repeat this exercise towards the end of the current decade and a 142WA comparison of the two surveys will give us a means of quantifying change in the countryside, including any loss or removal of hedgerows.

I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful at this stage.