4 days ago
The Beauty of Blossom and the Benefits of Hedgerows
A special extended episode of Nature Connects podcast has just been released from Tamar Valley National Landscape, this month focussing on blossom in a Tamar Valley cherry orchard and the great benefits of hedgerows.
In advance of The Tree Council’s National Hedgerow Week (5-11 May), hedge specialist and author, Rob Wolton, reveals the many benefits of hedges during a stroll around South Hooe Cottage Farmland Nature Trail on the Bere peninsula. Discover the secrets of these wildlife corridors and habitats in their own right, find out how they contribute to wider ecosystem services and learn how you can better manage hedges in the future.
Podcast hosts, Ginnette Sutherland and Charlotte Dancer from Tamar Valley National Landscape, also spent time at a cherry orchard near St Dominick where James Evans and Mary Martin have spent over 30 years preserving local heritage varieties of cherry, apple and pear trees. James and Mary share the fascinating origins and history of these stunning orchards; explore the diverse species growing there; highlight the management practices required to maintain the trees and discuss the incredible benefits to both biodiversity and our own wellbeing.
Ginnette Sutherland says; “This episode contains a wealth of advice and information on the benefits of blossom and hedges, so much so we’ve produced a longer podcast this month for our listeners. We’ve learned how to age a hedge, found out why there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ hedge and how orchard growers are needing to adapt as our climate changes.”
The monthly podcasts highlight at least one Tamar Valley Special Species; 17 plants and animals that were identified within Tamar Valley National Landscape’s Nature Recovery Plan 2023-2030 that need a helping hand to thrive. In this episode, find out more about the nationally-rare Plymouth Pear.
A regular feature of the podcast also includes taking just a moment to pause, engage and connect to the natural sounds that can be heard in the Tamar Valley, based on University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness research. This time, sit back and listen to the bird life at South Hooe.
Charlotte Dancer shares how you can explore this month’s topic further; “If you’ve been inspired by our latest podcast, and would like to delve deeper into orchards and hedges, James and Mary’s books ‘A Cornish Pomona’ and ‘Tamar Valley Cherries’ are available to buy from Tamar Valley Food Hubs - https://openfoodnetwork.org.uk/tamar-valley-food-hubs/shop. ‘Devon Hedges’ is also available to buy https://devonhedges.org/resources/publications/”
Nature Connects was launched in January this year, to bring the benefits of Nature to a wider audience, by celebrating the stories and sounds from Tamar Valley National Landscape, through a series of immersive walk and talk podcasts. Listeners can find all episodes of Nature Connects on podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. New podcasts will be released at the end of each month throughout 2025. These podcasts have been made possible thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme, a project of Tamar Valley National Landscape.
Hedgerow links
National Hedgerow Week - The Tree Council
Hedgelink - Working together for the UK’s hedgerows
Hedgerows - People's Trust for Endangered Species
South Hooe - Tamar Valley National Landscape Tamar Valley National Landscape
Blossom Orchards links
Festival of Blossom at Cotehele | National Trust
South West England | UK Orchard Network
Resilient Orchards Cornwall – Growing – Pruning – Grafting – Workshops – Advice
Traditional Orchards - People's Trust for Endangered Species
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