Day 59. Hedgerow Trees

Mature trees are a common feature of British hedgerows. The majority of Preston's hedges were planted around 250 years ago (see Day 57), and many of the trees were planted at the same time.

Timber was a valuable commodity in the 18^th century, but the national forests had now dwindled to a fraction their original extent. The trees planted in coppices (see Day 58) were intended for harvest after ten years or so, but large mature trees were vital for buildings, ship's timbers, wagons and many other purposes. Their presence boosted land values considerably. Many farmers planted trees in their newly-planted hedges as a long-term investment for the future generations. Without competition from other trees, they would grow quicker and stronger than those in a woodland.

The most commonly planted species were oak, ash and elm. All are durable timbers with a wide range of uses. Oak was the timber of choice for both building and ships. Fruit trees – pears were especially common in the Midlands – were also often planted.

The majority of mature hedgerow trees today are oak and ash. Thanks to Dutch Elm Disease, all the mature elms planted by our ancestors disappeared a generation ago.