Hedgerow havens

Hedges are such a traditional part of the British landscape that most of us don't give them a second thought. They're usually associated with the enclosures of the 17th-19th centuries, when the medieval farming system gave way to enclosed fields surrounded by hedges - designed to keep sheep in and people out! But, as Martha Kearney finds out, many hedges are far older than that - going back thousands of years in some cases.

In this programme, Martha explores the history and future of the hedge. She learns that there are an estimated 400,000 miles of hedgerow in Britain, despite many hedges having been grubbed up and destroyed in the years since the Second World War. She talks to a wildlife expert, who explains why hedges are so important for wildlife and outlines the vital role they have to play in the ecosystem.

Martha also visits a training course in Devon, where trainees are learning the ancient skill of hedge-laying, and tries her hand at the craft, using an axe and a billhook. She learns that the south-west has a higher proportion of England's hedges than any other county, and discovers that Devon has a hedge style all of its own.

Producer: Emma Campbell