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Removal & repalacement of conifer hedge for wildlife

Dawn21Dawn21 Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi.... we have a very old conifer hedge that is past its best and needs removing. It’s approx. 12ft tall on an east facing border and has really died back in recent years. I want to remove it and have pergola/ trellis with climbers to maintain some height/privacy (intend to speak with neighbour etc). My main issue is that it is used by a lot of birds... tits, wrens, blackbirds, starlings etc as a roost early/late evening and as a nest site. We will do the work after nesting season so my query is about what I can do to provide some shelter for birds that use the current hedge when we do remove it? The current hedge is quite deep/ tall so I definitely don’t want anything that big and the cost of using bigger hedge specimens is too much (worked out it would be +£1000)... but I would like to do something for the birds! Thanks

Posts

  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    Why not buy native hedging whips 90cm it's amazing how quick they grow 60-90cm a year some, others are slower but you could have the start of a reasonable hedge in two to three years and the birds will soon come back.
    The company's will say plant three or four per meter but I found that two works fine and if you want a thicker hedge then stagger them down the line leaving about 60cm between the rows.

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Would it be possible to do the the job in 2 stages, half this year and half next?
    That way the birds wouldn't lose all their shelter at once and it might be more manageable for you.
    If you followed HH's idea and planted a wildlife hedge (you can get mixed hedging packs) then the first part would be that bit more established and would provide cover more quickly when the rest of the old hedge went.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    Nothing constructive to add except it is nice you are thinking of the wildlife.
    Previous posters have made the best suggestions.
    Climbing Trachelospermum for the pergola, stay green and can get quite dense in the winter but still take time to get established .

    We want to get rid of ours. I have been growing Yew in front of ours so it has taken a long time for it to grow with the competition. Ongoing maintenance and removing lower branches so the yew could grow.

    I had planned to take ours out a couple of years ago, but a nearby neighbour removed all theirs, and a mature Yew. Someone else had extensive removal work done on hazel and other trees and hedging.

    Just could not bring myself to do ours and leave the birds with practically nothing. it is a pain having a conscience.
  • Dawn21Dawn21 Posts: 7
    Thanks for all your comments... I'm going to try the 2 step approach over this/ next year i think and add in native hedging in the spaces. 
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