Why plant a hedge?
 

• Hedges are the most natural form of garden boundary and have been used for centuries to keep out intruders or animals and to create shelter and privacy.
• They are also a key part of the garden landscape, acting as a living, green backdrop to colourful borders and lawns.
• Hedges can last longer than a fence and just as long as a wall.
• Less expensive than a fence or a brick wall.
• Provides shelter from winds.
• Attracts insects, birds and butterflies.
• Hedges that produce berries are a great source of food for birds. A hedge also provides shelter for birds. There is nothing quite like watching birds from your window feeding on berries on a cold, frosty morning.
• A hedge helps absorb noise and dust.
• Planting a hedge is a great idea if you want to hide an unattractive feature such as rubbish bins, washing lines, compost heaps or ugly buildings.
• If you have a large area, say an acre or more, and you want to create a boundary, plant shelter belts and groups of trees at the boundaries and in the corners. This will not only give you privacy, shelter and a lovely setting but will reduce the area for lawn mowing. Use hazel, birch, holly, hawthorn and beech. Leylandii green or gold also make excellent shelter belts.
• If you are exposed to sea wind, you can use griselinia, olearia or Escallonia.
• In inland areas, holly and yew make good evergreen hedges and hornbeam and hawthorn are good deciduous kinds.