Open Your Eyes on Your Travels

June finally approaches and with it the warming of the sun and the lengthening of the days. With my trusty dogs, I walk gleefully along the winding rural roads of Dumfries and Galloway, in the beautiful estate of Dalswinton. A breeze is channelled up the narrow roads, and carries the gorgeously delicious scents of the surrounding vegetation, most distinctive of all, the  hawthorn. The roads I travel along are extremely quiet and bordered with hedgerows and verges. The hedgerows and verges seemingly come to life over night as June arrives, bursting with colour, song and smells.

My walks along these rural roads always take a little longer than I first intend, there is just so much to see and take in. What first captivates me is the explosion of vivid ivory white, as the little white flowers of the abundant cow parsley form an array of umbrellas along the roadside. A scattering of lace amongst the green ferns. As an artist, I am mesmerized by the colour combinations and contrasts along a roadside and amongst the hedges. The reddish pink hues of red campion stand out boldly against the white lace of the parsley. 

In a growing concrete world, the roadside verges and heddgerows are a breath of fresh air. Nature’s tenacity to thrive is inspiring. Much like the ivy and brambles clinging to dry stone walls along a roadside, I cling to this hope that nature can win out in the end. Despite the devastation that humans cause: encroachment of urban areas; clearing of wild flower meadows and hedgerows to make way for larger agricultural fields and monstrous machinery. The ancient hedgerow systems of the UK have decimated disastrously since the Second World War. By the 1990s, an astonishing, 121,000 km of these habitats have been lost. If that does not induce heartache, I am not sure what will. 

I have fond childhood memories of holidaying in Cornwall. The hedgerows along the tiny windy roads of Cornwall were so tall, reaching up to the vast skies in every child’s dreams. My sisters and I would sit on the roof of our ford Granada estate through the sun roof, in order to see what lay beyond these giants of the rural Cornish roads. Will there be any hedgerows left for the future generation to gawp at? I hope so, for I plan to be mesmerized by them way in to my adulthood and beyond!

With closer inspection at the foliage in the verges, I spot the charming little plant, the greater stitchwort. These small white flowers have straggly stems and measure from 20 – 60 cm. With five petals, each one split. The greater stitchwort makes an early appearance and lights up dark woods and roadside. Like little stars, waymarkers to help guide you on your travels, but be sure not to pick them as you may find yourself being lead astray by elves or fairies!

A variety of trees and shrubs tend to make up a hedgerow system, with species such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, elder, and oak. Climbing plants tangle across the hedges, intertwining. Climbers such as ivy and honeysuckle are often found. You can not walk past honeysuckle without being ensnared by its sensational smell.

Nevertheless on my June wanderings, the hawthorn, elder and beech trees are what I see, with twisted ivy wrapping around them. I spot the gorgeous and proud dog rose beginning to reach for the sun and bramble winds its way along the base of the hedgerow and verges. By the hotter summer days of July the roses will be in full bloom and standing tall, with their red, pink and white petals. 

A light drizzle of rain begins to fall as my dogs and I travel along. At that point my senses are overwhelmed, the sweet scent of the hawthorn seems to lift up and linger all around me. Even the smell of the nettles seems to be heightened, everything is so alive! What is more, the bird song seems to have become elevated in the dampness. I pick out the tune of a robin and then hear a blackbird that is perched high up up an alder tree.. To me they are singing just because they can! I am captivated.

With a decline in much woodland, the hedgerow system is believed to support up to 80% of our woodland birds. For many species of birds, these habitats are a lifeline, up to 30% or more nesting in hedges. The extremely threatened yellowhammer is associated with hedgerow systems. A well managed hedgerow with varying heights can support a rich range of bird species, the yellowhammer having a fondness for shorter hedges, whereas dunnocks, willow warblers and whitethroats favour hedges that grow to taller heights. The gorgeously minute wren can be found hidden in these habitats, nesting low to the ground. Tall grassy verges and bases therefore can provide protection to nests from predators. 

Hedgerows are rich in biodiversity, the nectar rich blossoms of spring attracting insects, with many bees buzzing and butterflies flitting from blossom to blossom. The wild flowers that grow along the road verges are equally attractive. The hum of insects in the thick vegetation during summer, provide food for other animals, such as bats and shrews. By the time autumn arrives, rich berries are abundant. Brambles sprawled along the roadside tempt us with their delicious blackberries. Hedgerows are like hidden treasure troves, full of rich life, colour, tasty goodness, and sweet smells.

Not only do these habitats provide shelter, nesting places and food for many animals, they are an extremely important system that helps connect other fragmented habitats, acting as corridors for various species. Such corridors can provide suitable foraging grounds for many small mammals. The cute European protected hazel dormouse both nest and feed in hedgerows, as do bank voles, the harvest mouse, and the aptly named hedgehog. In fact, these incredible natural borders may support up to 50% of Britain’s mammals. They truly are a haven in a harsh sea of human destruction. If you wait quietly you may hear a little squeak and a little rustle, wait a little longer and you could spot a vole or shrew scurrying through the vegetation. 

I could delve deeper in to the values of the hedgerow system, but this is just a little snippet, an anecdote to inspire you and to invite you to enjoy one of Britain’s natural landscapes. Hedgerows and roadside verges are extremely important for biodiversity and there are endless reasons as to why they should be preserved. Is it not enough though, that they are so beautiful and bring great joy to those who pass them by? They are wonderful places to learn about nature and how things are all interwoven. They certainly do have an aesthetic appeal. Why then do some people still insist on racing past them, car engines roaring, drowning out the bird song. Anyone who considers zooming along these rural roads be careful not to knock me flat, as I most likely will have my head stuck in the bushes watching a little wren or investigating the wondrous wild flowers. 

May I also ask you to refrain from throwing your cans and plastic bottles out of your fast cars? My heart sinks whenever I spot rubbish lying amongst the beautiful bright flowers.  A disease pumping in to the heart of a living being. Why not instead, roll down your window, drop a few gears, look, listen and breathe in the wonder that is the hedgerow!

Written by Beata, copyrighted.

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