FiPL will fund over 7.5km of new hedge planting this winter, including 6.2km as part of a collaboration between 8 different landowners and land managers, working together to deliver landscape-scale improvements for biodiversity in the Surrey Hills.
This collaboration has developed from three Facilitation Fund groups in the Surrey Hills (North Downs, West Surrey Greensands and Greenscape), which have been set up to encourage farmers and other land managers work together to improve the natural environment at a landscape, rather than single-farm scale, to achieve greater improvements than individual holdings could on their own.
The hedge planting project will enhance connectivity across and between landholdings and woodlands with new hedgerows, hedgerow trees and in-field trees. This will support and increase biodiversity through the provision of new and/or improved habitats and provision of connectivity to further existing habitat sites. In addition, necessary protection from livestock will be provided with the appropriate installation of fencing.
Hedgerows containing a mix of native tree species, provide food throughout the seasons, helping to support and encourage species, such as the hazel dormouse, turtle dove and brown hairstreak butterfly. As well as providing food, hedgerows act as important wildlife corridors, helping wildlife to travel safely across the landscape. This helps to create healthy, genetically diverse populations of species by increasing connectivity between good quality habitats in the landscape.
This project is helping deliver the Surrey Hills Management Plan by sustainably supporting and enriching habitats and the natural environment and enabling the access and enjoyment of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for all.
Project summary
| Applicant | Birtley Estate (Simon Whalley) | Gostrode Farm (Robert Morgan-Williams) | Guildford BC (Tom Childs) | Wey & Arun CT (Margaret Darvill) | Albury Vineyard (Nick Wenman) | Manor Farm (Paula Matthews) | Woodcote Farm (Diane Jones) | Lydling Farm (Angus Stovold) |
| FiPL grant awarded | £5,503.60 | £9,651.40 | £7,552.00 | £1,224.00 | £501.60 | £84,091.00 | £6,728.00 | £7,931.60 |
| Total project cost | £5,503.60 | £9,651.40 | £7,552.00 | £1,224.00 | £501.60 | £84,091.00 | £6,728.00 | £7,931.60 |
| Project start date | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 | 16/12/21 |
| Project end date | 21/03/22 | 21/03/22 | 21/03/22 | 21/03/22 | 21/03/22 | 27/05/22 | 21/03/22 | 21/03/22 |
