Challows and Childrey Hedge Group

A new cross-parish hedges group has been set up covering East and West Challow and Childrey. The long-term goal is to restore the lost hedges that bordered so many of our fields and roads. A thriving hedgerow not only provides shelter and corridors for wildlife but can also offer protection and shade for crops and livestock. We aim to encourage landowners and farmers to plant and restore hedges but we also intend to do much of this ourselves supported by Oxfordshire Treescapes and Wild Oxfordshire.

We have received the promise of some funding from West Challow Parish Council (thank you very much WCPC) and it’s now a question of identifying the first site, the right plants and getting the landowner on side, particularly with a view to maintaining the hedgerow in the long-term. This does not have to be a brand new hedge but could reduce the gaps in many hedgerows (see the picture above).

We are looking to identify interested residents to form a group to begin planning our work using currently available software. We would also be very pleased to hear from local landowners, some of whom are already doing their bit for the environment. Planting is best done during autumn and we are hoping to start in earnest in autumn 2023.

If you are interested in restoring our local landscape and biodiversity please feel free to contact either of us.

Cllr Dr Paul Barrow Paul.Barrow@whitehorsedc.gov.uk

Alastair Barclay abarclay589@gmail.com