Planting a hedgerow

_{PUBLISHED 8/1/25}

Guest post from Jacinta Dawe, our Section Leader for the Zoo and member of our Native Species Conservation Committee

Alongside our conservation efforts for the many species we care for at Drusillas, we are also committed to helping to preserve native British and Sussex wildlife. Last year, staff created Native Species Conservation Committees who take part in research projects such as pond dipping to examine and record the native wildlife and plants that inhabit our diverse site, and provide valuable data to help ensure their future survival.

In addition, the committees also undertake practical work intended to support native wildlife, such as creating a wildflower meadow and bee bank, and building hedgehog ramps. The Native Species Committee's latest project was to plant a hedgerow in Drusillas grounds to encourage insects and small mammals to flourish. In this guest post, Zoo Section Leader, Jacinta, shares her experiences of the day:

"Late last year, the Native Wildlife committee gathered to plant a new 40 metre hedgerow that we hope will benefit local wildlife for years to come. This was done in the picnic area in the carpark. The project was a joint effort, bringing together members from various departments, including education, attractions, volunteers and the zoo team. It was a beautiful, wintery day, with lovely sunshine, which made the planting a really enjoyable project to take part in."

We measured out each metre of the hedgerow, and marked this with bamboo canes, to allow us to evenly spread the trees as we planted them. We chose 6 saplings to plant in each metre and dug a ‘T’ shape into the soil, before lifting this up to plant the sapling. We then protected the small plants using bamboo canes to help support them in the wind, and recycled tree guards to protect the little plants from being eaten by rabbits."

"The project is simple, but beneficial to a wide range of wildlife: planting a variety of native trees that not only spruce up the area, but also provide shelter, food, and corridor for wildlife. The species planted include hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, silver birch and crab apple. Each species flowers at different times of the year and creates food such as hazelnuts. The hedgerow will create a safe environment for birds such as wrens, insects like bumblebees, and small mammals including hedgehogs. The area will also allow visitors to experience a quieter area of the zoo to enjoy a break away from the busy park."

"Over the years, as the plants grow and establish themselves, the hedgerow will become a thriving ecosystem, supporting native species and contributing to biodiversity."

We'll be sharing more of the Committee's activities throughout the year and remember, our visitors can help us too! All you need to do is download the iNaturalist.org app, and when you next visit keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful butterflies, bugs, and blooms. Snap a photo of them and add them to the Drusillas Park observation project below, to be part of our conservation team.