HOW TO PLANT A CHESHIRE HEDGEROW

A good mixed Cheshire hedgerow would contain the following species:

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) - 50%
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) - 20%
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) - 10%
Hazel (Corylus avellana) - 10%
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) - 5%
Field Maple (Acer campestre) - 5%

These figures are obviously only rough suggestions. You could also add in other species such as Dog Rose or Hornbeam in small numbers. When planting the hedgerow they always look more 'natural' if you plant the species in clumps, e.g. about 5 hazel plants together rather than spreading them throughout the hedge.

If you have the space you could also put in some standard hedgerow trees. In Cheshire these would normally be either English Oak (Quercus robur) or Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) at 30m intervals