Leafield Car park hedging project

The aim of the project is to use native hedging as car park barriers, replacing the removed wooden barriers. This will enhance the environmental quality of the car park, and support biodiversity.

We will use native hedging rather than using wooden or metal barriers. A softwood post and rail fence will be installed and the native whips planted either side of the fencing; the fence providing protection for the whips whilst they establish, and being left to rot when the hedges have grown around them.

The barriers are important for safety as the car park is next to the playground, and used by many individuals and local groups, including the pre-school, Village Hall users and the Football Club. The Council is keen to use this as an opportunity to enhance the environmental quality of the car park, but using a more sustainable solution which will provide long-term ecological benefits.

The Village Hall car park and playing fields are surrounded by mature hedges and trees. Extra hedging will enhance the biodiversity, providing new habitats for a wide range of local wildlife, including birds and insects, and improve the green corridors in this area. It will also act as a natural sound barrier, helping to reduce the noise from vehicle engines, and absorb some CO2, helping to offset vehicle emissions.

Local groups and individuals will be involved in the planting and maintenance of the hedging, offering opportunities for the local primary and pre-schools to understand more about planting and growing hedges, and how hedging provides food and shelter for a variety of animals, and encourage an increased understanding in the community of the process of creating a hedge, and of the importance and values of trees and hedging.