birds of 11 different species, in 1964 which was an
average year. Some of the Blackbirds crowded into
other hedges; two nesting with a Song Ghrush in one
hush - the fighting for territories taking place over
nearby feeding grounds. The Yellowhammers, Hedge
Accentors or Dunnocks, Linnets, Wrens, Warblers and
Greenfinches did not apparently find alternative
nesting sites on the rest of the census area and total
numbers went down. Whitethroats dropped from six
pairs to two. Common Whitethroats have become rare
all over England but they had always nested in these
roadside hedges before they were destroyed. If this
can happen when half a mile of road is built, how
many birds are we going to lose when a planned 2,250
miles are made before 1980? A report on a Common
Bird Census taken on a hedgeless, pondless, farm in
Denmark listed only two species of bird, Skylarks and
Corn Buntings. All other birds had gone, even
Blackbirds, and this could happen here.
The age of a hedge can be told, roughly, by allowing
one hundred years for each different kind of bush or
tree in a thirty yard stretch. The thick, very old
Essex hedges, especially those of hawthorn with oak,
ash, holly, ivy, sloe, bramble, wild rose, crab apple
and hazel make safe nesting sites; safe travelling
for family parties; warm winter quarters and provide
good feeding for birds, mammals and insects. Some of
these hedges are remnants of the Forest of Essex and
some are historically valuable as old Parish or
Hundred boundaries and as such they can be recommended
to the County Council for preservation, not as
"hedges" but as "amenities". So please search out
and try to preserve your old hedges.
Mrs. C.R.Phillips, M.B.O.U.
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