Highways Agency

• Introduction to the a10 scheme
• The existing problems are:
• The scheme solutions are:
• Ecology
• Landscaping - planting new hedgerows
• Did you know....landscaping and ecology
• Did you know - how to build a bridge?
• Comments and further information

A10 Wadesmill to Colliers End Bypass

Landscaping - Planting new hedgerows

We will plant new hedgerows where possible to replace the ones that have had to be removed to make way for the new road. Hedgerows are an important feature of the countryside because they provide habitat for many species of animals, birds, insects and plants. They provide useful corridors for wildlife to travel across the countryside and great care will be taken to link the new hedgerows to tunnels under the road.

Many of Britain's hedgerows date from the 18^th century when farmers enclosed their fields, although some are much older. The age of a wild hedgerow can be predicted by counting the number of tree and shrub species in a twenty-seven-metre length. As a rule, one species represents one century.

We will try to copy this by planting a variety of different tree and shrub species in the new hedgerows. These will include the following native British species to create a haven for local wildlife and interest for local people:

English Oak

A native deciduous tree that is common in Britain, which can reach heights up to 30 metres. It flowers in May with acorns developing on long stalks in the autumn. These stalks are known as peduncles, which give the oak its other common name of Pedunculate Oak.

Ash

A native, deciduous tree characterised by a long clean trunk and open canopy generally reaching an average height of 25 metres. It flowers in April and is in leaf for a relatively short period of the year from late spring to early autumn. The leaves turn golden yellow in October making the ash an attractive hedgerow tree in the autumn.

Field Maple

A native to Britain, this deciduous tree is often found in hedges leading to its other common name of Hedge Maple. It is a small tree, ranging commonly between 4.5 to 9 metres, although it may sometimes be much taller. It has small flowers, which appear in late April or early May. These develop into winged, hanging fruits, which spiral from the tree in the autumn. It is most noticeable in the autumn when its leaves turn deep orange and red.

Crab Apple

This is a native, deciduous hedgerow tree. It may reach a height of 9 metres, although it is commonly much smaller. Its masses of flowers open in late May. It has rather small apples in September to October, which support many bird and animals.

Goat Willow or Pussy Willow

This is a small tree or shrub, native to Europe, reaching about 10 metres in height. It is probably best known for its catkins, which open on bare twigs in March and April. It is possible to tell the sex of a plant by the colour of these: The males are yellowy and the females are pale green. The leaves are broad and rather wrinkled, with soft grey hairs underneath.

Hazel

This is a common native hedge species, traditionally coppiced for fencing hurdles. In the wild, it forms bushy thickets 4 to 6 metres high and sometimes forms a small tree. The catkins appear in February and March, with the fruit ripening in October.

Common Hawthorn or May Thorn

This is a common native hedge species, growing to a height of about 10 metres. Traditionally, it was cut back and layered to form dense, prickly hedgerows. These form ideal nesting sites for many small birds. It's fragrant pale white flowers appear in masses in early May, giving it its other common name of May Thorn. The dark red fruit ripen in September and support many forms of wildlife throughout the autumn.

Sloe or Blackthorn

This deciduous prickly shrub or small tree is native to Europe. Traditionally, people have gathered its fruits in the autumn to flavour sloe gin. It is a generally small shrub (4.5 metres), but may reach a 6 metre high tree. Flowers open before the leaves in March or early April. The twigs have hard sharp spines.