Aberdeenshire Council and the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NESBiP) planted 300 metres of native hedges in the Hareshowe fields of Aden Country Park to enhance biodiversity and support the local wildlife.
Much of the wildlife found across the 230 acres of Mintlaw’s Aden Country Park is included on the Scottish Biodiversity List and in Local Biodiversity Action Plans which identify them as high priority for biodiversity conservation in Scotland and across the North East.
Over the course of two days around 1,800 trees - provided by the Woodland Trust through its MOREhedges scheme - were planted by Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service and NESBiP with support from local volunteers and Mintlaw & District Men’s Shed group. This created two new hedgerows of mostly hawthorn, but enriched with hazel, holly, blackthorn, rowan, dog rose, and crab apple, that will form a “wildlife corridor” between woodlands.
Hedges help small animals and insects move through our landscapes from one woodland habitat patch to another while providing refuge and nesting sites, flowers for pollinators in the spring and berries for food in autumn and winter.
The hedges will be managed for wildlife, with the trees being allowed to grow for several years between cuts so that they produce flowers and berries.
Chair of the council’s infrastructure services committee Councillor Alan Turner said: “Aden Country Park is home for a diverse array of wildlife, including water shrews, woodpeckers, red squirrels, otters, and even the occasional kingfisher. We have a duty to preserve the biodiversity of this remarkable site and by implementing projects, like hedge planting, we aim to ensure that these wonderful creatures can thrive and be appreciated by future generations.”
NESBiP biodiversity coordinator Abbie Ferrar said: “Hedgerows play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, livestock, and human communities. They provide shelter and serve as a year-round food source.
"Additionally, hedgerows help reduce wind erosion of sandy soils and can lower air pollution when planted alongside roads. They act as barriers against water runoff, and their root systems help slow the flow of water through river catchments, which can mitigate peak flood levels during heavy rainfall.
"In the 20th century, Scotland lost approximately half of its hedgerows, making community hedge-planting events essential for restoring these vital nature corridors.”
The North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NESBiP) takes action for biodiversity through partnership. NESBiP has a wide range of partners including local authorities, conservation charities, community groups and business. Project delivery is through collaboration, sharing best practice, raising awareness and promoting positive action.
Aberdeenshire Council has duty under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further the conservation of biodiversity while carrying out its functions and reports on biodiversity actions to meet this duty every three years.
To learn more about Aberdeenshire Council’s work for biodiversity, habitats, protected and notable species, and its pollinator action plan, head to the Nature conservation page of the council’s website.