Volunteers sought to help safeguard the future of UK hedgerows - Forest Research

Hedgerows are one of the most recognisable features of the UK landscape — and at their heart stands hawthorn. Now, a new national research initiative is calling on volunteers to help strengthen our understanding of hawthorn resilience in a changing world.

The project, a collaboration between Forest Research, Fera, The Tree Council, and the International Plant Sentinel Network, aims to assess how resilient hawthorn is to pests, diseases and environmental pressures and how this vulnerability may impact the surrounding treescape. Samples from across the country are needed, and that’s where volunteers can make a real difference.

“By taking a little time to observe hawthorn, volunteers can play a vital role in ensuring these much‑loved trees continue to shape our landscapes and support ecosystems for generations to come,” said Forest Research social scientist, Laura Baker.

Why hawthorn matters

Hawthorn is the backbone of UK hedgerows, making up an estimated 70% of their structure. These hedgerows play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, preventing soil erosion and connecting habitats.

Despite its importance, surprisingly little is known about how resilient hawthorn populations are to emerging threats and how vulnerabilities could impact the wider treescape.