author : Gerry Barnes

The authors ask why hedgerows vary across different parts of Britain, and investigate the ecological, economic and historical reasons for these variations. Drawing upon a unique computerised analysis of hedges in Norfolk, they explore how hedges came into existence, and how they have changed over time. They move beyond the myth that a hedge can be dated simply by counting species, and develop instead a much more sophisticated account of hedgerow history. They point out marked geographic variations in species content and diversity, and explore the reasons for these differences.

Essential reading for all those interested in hedgerows and trees, the new research presented in this book has implications for the practice of landscape history across the whole of Britain.