Last week, members of the Hertfordshire Zoo team rolled up their sleeves to support native wildlife by taking part in a hedge planting project in Digswell, alongside the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
Awaiting the team were hedge seedlings, ready to be planted to create a thriving new hedgerow. The mix included a rich variety of native species such as Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel, Field Maple, Crab Apple, Spindle, Goat Willow, Guelder Rose, Oak and Wayfaring Tree. The seedlings, along with tree canes and protective guards, were generously funded by Affinity Water through their Water in the Landscape Fund.
The planting session was led by Heidi Mansell, Chalk Rivers & Farm Advisory Officer at the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Heidi demonstrated best-practice planting techniques to ensure the young hedges establish successfully and develop into a resilient habitat capable of supporting a wide range of native wildlife. Her role, funded by the Environment Agency, plays a key part in delivering the Catchment Based Approach Chalk Stream Strategy, helping to bring together landowners, communities and stakeholders to improve river and landscape health across the region.
The day also offered plenty of opportunities to encounter wildlife up close. Team members spotted numerous earthworms, a cluster of splitgill mushrooms, ladybirds, a wolf spider, a frog, and even a pair of swans, highlighting just how rich and diverse local habitats can be.
By the end of the day, the Hertfordshire Zoo team, working alongside Heidi and an Affinity Water representative, had successfully planted 370 hedges, making a meaningful contribution to the wider landscape-scale conservation project.
Initiatives like this reflect Hertfordshire Zoo’s ongoing commitment to protecting wildlife not only within the zoo, but across the wider local environment – helping nature thrive for generations to come.
