ialeUK Bunce Lecture 2024 by Dr Lisa Norton November 28th, 15:00-16:30 GMT/UTC
registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9a5d19c-9cce-494f-99f9-339b4069df8f@1b923567-07bd-4ac1-85f2-45eda26d837c
Hedgerows are important ecological corridors and characterise UK farming landscapes but have been under immense pressure for decades. But with renewed appreciation of their importance, is the future looking bright for UK hedges? ialeUK have organised this Bunce lecture in honour of the late Bob Bunce, a founding member of ialeUK, to encourage this discussion and to learn from leaders in the field of hedgerow ecology.
Our keynote speaker, Dr Lisa Norton (Landscape Ecologist at UKCEH), will provide the latest insights about the condition and trends of hedgerows in the UK. This will be followed by a panel discussion with experts from across Great Britain, who will reflect on Lisa’s talk considering hedge policy, practice and research.
Hedgerow monitoring in the GB Countryside Survey (CS) has provided important evidence on changes in the extent and condition of hedges over the past five decades. Between 1998 and 2007 it revealed a loss of managed hedges and a steady transition into lines of trees. An assessment of the condition of hedges in 2007 indicated that less than half of all hedges were reported to be in good structural condition and still fewer had appropriate margins. The diversity of flora associated with the bottom of hedges showed a steady deterioration between 1978 and 2007. In 2022/23 UKCEH carried out a repeat survey of hedges for Natural England to assess the impacts of agri-environment schemes in England since 2007 and conducted online surveys with hedge managers to provide insights into management decisions. This presentation will show the results of this work and of aligned hedgerow surveys in Wales since 2007 and will describe current hedgerow monitoring in other UK countries.
Panellists:
Dr Jaques Baudry, French landscape ecologist with a special interest in hedgerow since the early 1980s
Nigel Adams, experienced hedgelayer in the Chilterns Hills advising and working with farmers, estates, conservation organisations and small landowners.
Emma Marrington, experienced campaigner and landscape enhancement lead at CPRE, The countryside charity.
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