A Natural History of the Hedgerow

Ever since the first human settlements 10,000 years ago, hedgerows have been a feature of our landscape and our history. The Romans were keen hedge builders, the Anglo-Saxons gave us the word "hege" and in the nineteenth century villagers rioted against the building of hedged enclosures. Many of these ancient hedgerows still survive, and today they line our motorways, fringe our gardens and criss-cross the countryside.

In The Natural History of the Hedgerow: and Ditches, Dykes and Dry Stone Walls, John Wright tells the story of hedgerows past and present, encompassing their long significance in the life of the countryside, their origins and natural history, the ancient crafts involved in their creation, and the huge variety in their ages, sizes, shape, composition and functions. Full of beautiful line drawings and colourful photographs, the book transforms these stalwarts of nature into rich sources of cultural, historical and scientific material. You'll never look at shrubs in the same way again.