The Park Lane Boundary

This area comprises the hedge, adjacent scrub and unmown grassland

In the mixed-species hedge hawthorn is dominant. The old barbed-wire fencing along the hedge is being removed when feasible. Apart from preventing growth into the adjacent foot and cycle path (F&C path) the hedge was unmanaged for a decade or so. Tree species (notably ash, elm, oak and horse chestnut) saplings became tall and filled out causing the adjacent hedge to become gappy and lose the woody shrubs, which also happened beneath the Avenue trees.

The hedge is currently being restored in sections. The aim is to maintain the hedge at about 2m height and about 2 to 2.5m thick. The face alongside the F&C path is regularly trimmed back over the summer. The top and meadow-side of the hedge will be trimmed during winter on a two or three-year cycle.

Restoration involves providing a temporary fence along the F&C path and then removing bramble and ivy. Sound woody shrubs are either laid or coppiced. Gaps are infilled with whips, with the aim of increasing the floral diversity. Generally, several whips of any species will be planted as a block.

The western end of the hedge is overshadowed by the Elm Copse. Here the hedge is thin and has suffered from several vehicles crashing through in recent years. The existing woody shrubs are being encouraged to develop further and shade-tolerant species (such as holly and possibly yew) are being planted to reinforce the meadow-side of the hedge.

The scrub on the meadow-side of the hedge is managed on four-year rotation. The intention is to allow low scrub to develop, providing habitat for various creatures. This includes small mammals, nesting birds and a wide range of invertebrates. Each year one section of the scrub will be cut back to ground level and then left to regenerate until cut down again after four years.