What’s in our hedgerows for wildlife, and us, to eat?

Hedgerows are some of the richest habitats in the British countryside. When left to grow and not cut back, they become vital larders for birds, mammals and insects, as well as offering treats for us too. 

While late summer brings blackberries and other delicious fruit, which are mainly gone now, there is still an abundance of berries to be found, even if they are not first choice for some birds – or us! 

Across our farms, hedgerows are filled with hawthorn, rosehips, guelder rose and even spindleberries, plus lots of sloes for all the sloe gin lovers out there! 

Why Hedgerow Variety Matters 

Having a diverse mix of hedgerow species ensures there’s food for wildlife across the colder months. Different plants fruit at various times, providing a steady food supply through autumn and into winter. 

Conservation Officer, Vince Lea, says: “Some berries aren’t birds’ favourites, but that’s actually a good thing. If all the tastier fruits were eaten straight away, wildlife would run out of food quickly. The less palatable berries, like sloes, remain for later in the season when they’re needed most.” 

Rodents such as wood mice and bank voles also benefit. They gnaw open the sloe berries’ to eat seeds inside. 

Later in the year, after the sloes have gone, Ivy will start to ripen up ready for March and April.  

On our farms 

At Lark Rise Farm in Cambridgeshire, CRT trustee and tenant Tim Scott lets his hedgerows thrive for the benefit of wildlife. 

He says: “It always amazes me regarding my fellow farmers’ obsession with tidiness. I find it crazy to cut every single hedge as soon as you can when you could leave them until later and allow birds to feast on all the berries.” 

Matt Elphick, our tenant farmer at Brays Farm in Surrey, hasn’t cut his hedges for a good few years now. 

“Hedgerows are a brilliant and really important habitat for many species of birds but also small mammals and insects,” he says. “This coupled with most plants and trees trying to survive the summer drought has meant they have produced an abundance of fruit and seeds. I’m seeing a great many starlings enjoying the berries in our hedgerows at the moment.  
 
“I’ve also been lucky enough to see a vole benefitting from this year’s bumper fruit crop.” 

Which berries can humans eat? 
 
You can enjoy some of the same fruits found in the hedgerows, but always forage safely and identify plants correctly before eating. Don’t rely solely on a phone app. 

Hawthorn berries, known as Haws. 

Dense and dry in texture, haws make excellent jellies to serve with cheese, or even a tangy alternative to tomato sauce. 

Rosehips 

Rosehips can be eaten but depending on how you use them, they may need to be processed before using, as inside you’ll find they are full of tiny, rather hairy seeds that are incredibly irritating on the skin. The most common thing to do with rosehips, is make a syrup to be used as a simple cordial to be added to cocktails, poured over puddings or breakfasts, or used to make a delicious sorbet. You can also make rosehip tea. 

Guelder rose 

These berries are mildly toxic when raw, but they are safe to eat once cooked. They make a tasty jam or jelly when properly prepared.

Sloe berries 

Yes, you can eat sloes, but they are not recommended to eat raw because they are extremely sour and bitter. 

Our favourite thing to do with them is to make sloe gin. Click here for a great recipe https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sloe-gin but you can also make jelly or a sloe sauce, which goes very well with pork.

Crab apples 

These are too tart to eat raw but crab apple jelly is very tasty as well as a crab apple gin liquor.  

And do not eat! 

Spindle berries 

No! Don’t eat these are they are poisonous to humans and can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, and in severe cases, can lead to more serious effects like convulsions, liver and kidney damage, or even death. 

Why Hedgerows need Our Protection 

Healthy, mixed hedgerows are essential for wildlife survival, soil health, and natural pest control. By leaving them uncut until later in winter, farmers and landowners can help birds and small mammals thrive, while keeping our countryside full of life and colour.  You can also keep an eye out for privet, dogwood, buckthorn, alder buckthorn, rowan, ivy, yew, holly, wayfaring tree, elder, bramble and honeysuckle, which all bring diversity to our hedgerows.