Hedgerows resemble woodland edge and scrub habitats. They exhibit a wide range of variation and the most important are rich in relic species of ancient woodland. Some of these will be remnants of the original woodland cover retained to mark a boundary when the surrounding woods were first cleared.

Stevenage contains a network of ancient hedgerows—some over 1,000 years old—that were preserved during the town’s development and now run alongside former country lanes that are now used as pedestrian and cycle routes. These hedgerows, rich in woodland-edge species such as oak, ash, hornbeam, field maple, hawthorn and blackthorn, provide valuable wildlife habitat and reflect the borough’s semi-natural history. Many show signs of historic coppicing but have not been actively managed in recent times.

To ensure their long-term health and biodiversity, future management should focus on coppicing rather than hedge-laying—thickening the hedges, rejuvenating growth and improving ground flora—while retaining mature standard trees except where occasional coppicing increases light levels.

Previous plans aimed to map and set management prescriptions for these hedgerows, with the ongoing objective of ensuring their survival and enhancing their ecological and recreational value