If you wish to know the background of the hedgerows that commonly separate neighbors from each others, there’s quite a lot to know. The history of hedges, in fact, is wide-ranging and steeped in cultural history. Here is a brief run-down of how they came to be and what their main functions are in the modern world we are currently living in.
The hedge row originally came to the forefront many thousands of years ago where they were used as boundaries to separate fields of cereal crops from one another. While it is possible they were used to mark primitive property lines, they were more likely used as windbreaks so that young crops would have an easier time to get started. Early Neolithic farmers grew everything from wheat to oats.
Original hedges were planted to follow tree lines that were already in place because of the soil. Some soils are richer than others, and the lines were often planted to designate the boundary lines between the different soils. This allowed farmers to determine which crops to plant in the different fields so that they would have a better chance of surviving.
A hedge can rest on a number of foundations that already exist. During the medieval period and into the early Modern period, many shrubs were planted near stonewalls that acted as a ready-made straight line. People also used earthen mounds to create a little extra height for their property line. The mounds boosted the shrubbery to heights of a few extra feet.
In the modern era, it is common to see large trees make up part of the hedge line. Beech trees, for example, are not unusual in Great Britain and can be seen along the edges of fields and grassy areas. Large oaks and beeches make great homes for wildlife for people who are interested in the natural world. The trees attract a greater number of species to the property, and these animals can then be viewed in person or with binoculars.
In today’s world, hedges are often utilized for privacy. They can be grown to great heights and can conceal houses and buildings from the nearby sidewalk. This offers a nice degree of privacy that some homeowners and business owners would be quite keen on.
Finally, a hedgerow can be used as part of the decorative scheme of a piece of property. The shrubbery can be trimmed into shapes of animals or other objects that will offer an intriguing appearance to people who happen to be walking by. In fact, in many towns and cities, there are even hedge-shaping competitions that award prizes to the winners.
How the hedge developed is fascinating. By following its history, we can learn about how men and women lived from the early agricultural ages all the way up to the present. If you yourself are thinking of adding a hedge to your property, you’ll be able to choose from a number of different options that will help you improve your property and impress visitors whenever they arrive at your door.
