Naturalist

Connectivity in Springtime

There is something magical about Devon in spring, which I believe is largely due to our network of high banked Devon hedges, relatively small fi elds, rolling hills and deep wooded, wet valleys. Although not strictly limited by the eastern and western boundaries of the county, these features are suffi cient to distinguish the countryside from other areas that use diff erent ways of dividing the land.

Spring began early this year following a mild but wet winter and the early yellow of celandine, primrose and hazel is already fading, to be replaced by the bright green foliage of deciduous woody perennials, especially the tree species that top the hedgebanks. This still comes as a welcome surprise even knowing that the trees spend the autumn preparing for spring with their new leaves packed tightly inside protective buds, with the shape of the bud being determined by the pattern of the leaves. Even nascent catkins such as hazel are visible throughout

the winter ready to burst to full length in early spring. At the same time, birds start their preparations for the annual reproductive cycle, often the fi rst are robins and, if one is lucky, song thrushes can be heard delivering their lustful singing from some nearby vantage point.

After a winter when mere survival is the motivation, the twin triggers of day length and ambient temperature initiate the whole process. The next phase is heralded with the pink of campions and white of stitchwort, closely followed by bluebells that have spread out of their traditional woodland habitats into the hedgerows. Blackthorn, followed by hawthorn, put on a display of white blossom rivalling many fl owering garden shrubs. By the time May arrives our migrant birds have also returned. Many are dependent upon insect life for sustenance - aphids high on their list of delicacies. Of these, my own seasonal landmark is a warbler whose repetitive two note ‘chiff -chaff ’ call is heard any time from March 12th to the end of the month.

Birds use our tall Devon hedgerows not just for singing, feeding and nesting, but also for security. They may venture out into a fi eld to feed, or visit bird tables, but return to cover at the fi rst sign of danger and small fl ocks will often move along the hedge searching for food. This pattern is mirrored below by small mammals that inhabit the undergrowth - I have watched voles using branches lying horizontally at the base, like a hedgerow motorway! No wonder predators such as sparrowhawks haunt

hedgerows. Where hedgerows are contiguous with trees alongside watercourses, even more aquatic birds like kingfi shers are helped to explore further afi eld.

The signifi cance of trees to our own mental well-being has received well-deserved publicity recently. I am sure our hedgerows, especially in spring, may deliver the same benefi t to our health. After all, this is where we choose to take a relaxing walk along quiet lanes especially if woodland terrain is too steep and boggy and moorland too windswept. Many fi ne old trees can also be found here, some even dating from the time the fi elds were fi rst delineated H A W T H O R N E R E D C A M P I O N

several centuries ago. It saddens me when I see a mature hedge removed for no obvious benefi t - with the debris often burned on site!

This country has a relatively good record of creating reserves for keynote species, eg migrating waterfowl, rare plants or areas of landscape value, but is in danger of neglecting the forgotten spaces in between.

Spring does indeed reconnect us to the natural world, just as the natural corridors of hedgerows and verges connect our wildlife populations with each other. n Pete Mayston

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