This week our gardening group planted a lovely mixed native hedge on the long boundary between two of our residential houses.

We were lucky enough to receive a huge box full of mixed saplings from the Woodland Trust last Autumn including Crab Apples, Hazel, Dogwood, Hawthorn and Dog Rose.

We healed them into our nursery bed to keep them live and healthy until we could use them.

Last week we spent a day clearing the boundary ready for planting. We saved and pruned several existing shrubs on the boundary, including some self-set fruit trees which could be incorporated into the hedge. This week the group got the hedge planted. We cleared the boundary of any more weeds, dug trenches between existing shrubs, planted the saplings, watered them in, added stakes and tree protectors and then mulched the boundary to prevent more weeds.

What an amazing improvement from the old broken down fencing!

The native hedge will be kept watered until it's properly established. It will provide a beautiful boundary for the human residents and hopefully encourage wildlife into the gardens, including many native wild birds and hedgehogs.

Thanks to the Woodland Trust for the generous donation.