Implications For National Park-Wide State Of Traditional Boundaries : Hedge Banks / Hedge Lines

Sample Area	Extant Stock Proof hedges (m)	Total Length of hedge banks/ hedge lines surveyed	Extant % of total length of hedge banks / hedge lines surveyed
1	0	5574	0%
2	1590	5060	21.42%
3	0	9740	0%
4	190	1375	13.81%
Total	1780	21749	8.18%

A total of 21749m of hedge bank and hedge line was sampled in the four study areas. The four study areas themselves comprise some 5% of the total area of the National Park.

Of the total length of hedges surveyed 1780 m were deemed to be standing and stock-proof. This represents some 8.18% of the total hedge length surveyed. It must be remembered that these hedges were part of the marcher boundaries of the twelve holdings studied and as a result they are likely to be the best maintained, forming as they do the divisions between holdings.

If over 90% of the hedge lengths studied was NOT stock proof then it might be suggested by extrapolation that the remaining internal boundary system might be even less well maintained.

We might surmise that over 90% of the hedge boundaries within the National Park are in need of more or less maintenance and re-planting to make them stock-proof.