Volunteers laying a hedge by weaving cut branches between wooden stakes in a rural Hampshire field under grey skies

The Hampshire Hedge

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What is the Hampshire Hedge?

The Hampshire Hedge is an ambitious initiative by local countryside charity CPRE Hampshire creating a nature super-highway connecting Hampshire’s two National Parks – the South Downs National Park and the New Forest National Park – with a wildlife corridor of hedgerow.

The hedgerow winds its way for about 14 miles (22km) through the central Hampshire parishes and links woodlands, meadows, local nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest and has been supported by New Forest NPA volunteers.

The CPRE Hampshire Hedge The CPRE Hampshire Hedge

14

miles (22km) from the New Forest to the South Downs national parks

2744

young people involved, learning countryside skills

13,000

volunteer hours, including volunteers with the New Forest National Park Authority, have helped create the hedge

10

years before the Hampshire Hedge matures

Why is the Hampshire Hedge important?

Hedgerows play an enormously important role in boosting biodiversity, capturing carbon, improving food production and enhancing our rural community.

The countryside has lost over half of all hedgerows since 1945 and CPRE Hampshire believe it’s time to turn this around. The charity has already worked for several years on restoration of hedgerows across the Hampshire countryside, educating and working with local communities, schools, landowners and farmers.

Launched in 2023, hear from our Chair at the time Prof Gavin Parker and the South Downs National Park Authority Chair Vanessa Rowlands.

Ellie Banks, Hedgerow Officer at CPRE Hampshire and former New Forest NPA apprentice ranger

‘The Hampshire Hedge offers communities a great opportunity to work together to restore and plant hedges in their local areas. We provide training on the traditional crafts of hedgelaying and offer some great resources to help communities learn surveying and hedgerow management to achieve the full benefits of their rich offerings.’

Hampshire Hedge Group volunteers with spades and gloves stand by a gate holding a “The Hampshire Hedge” CPRE banner in a field

What is the route of the Hampshire Hedge?

The Hampshire Hedge winds its way through the central heart of Hampshire parishes and link woodlands, meadows, local nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It starts from Copythorne in the New Forest and finishes at Compton, on the edge of the South Downs, near Winchester. The aim is to plant 5,000 metres of hedge involving 50,000 trees and the project is in its final phase. It will take about 10 years for them to turn into hedgerows.

Paul Walton, New Forest National Park Authority Head of Environment and Rural Economy

'Changes in agriculture led to the loss of many hedgerows, but the project helps to restore some of that balance.'

Hear from partner The Tree Council at Hedgefest marking the Hampshire Hedge project's final phase

L to R, Trevor Beattie, then Chief Executive of the South Downs National Park Authority, Alison Barnes, Chief Executive of the New Forest National Park Authority, Professor Gavin Parker, then Chair of the New Forest National Park Authority, Vanessa Rowlands, Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority

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