Life On The Hedge – Details, episodes & analysis

In the final episode of our series we head to Glentress Forest, just south of Edinburgh, to meet Emma Bryden, a member of Scotland’s Young People’s Forest Project.

Emma is part of an ambitious scheme where 13 young Scots are co-designing a forest for the future, right here in Scotland. She’s joined by Forest Industries Advisor Ros Wardman for a walk about the Glentress landscape. They delve into the social and historical importance of hedgerows, woodland and forests, why commercial timber has a role in our future, and how trees can help us solve the climate crisis.

We’re also joined by Dr Chris Thorogood, from the University of Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum. He shares his passion for plants and trees, talks us through what he gets up to day to day and gives us his take on how to break into a career in the Green Sector. 

#LifeOnTheHedge

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Emma Bryden is part of Scotland’s Young People’s Forest Panel, a youth group with a vision to create the first forest in Scotland, co-designed, led and governed by young people. The project is supported by Young Scot and YouthLink Scotland. 

Ros Wardman is a Forest Industries Advisor with Scottish Forestry, the Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations. 

If you’d like to explore a career in forestry, Ros suggested checking out the following organisations: Institute of Chartered Foresters, Forestry and Land Scotland, Confederation of Forest Industries, Forestry England. There are many routes into this sector, apprenticeships through to degrees. 

The Forestry Commission has also just launched it's new Development Woodland Officer apprenticeship programme. This paid opportunity is perfect for passionate individuals over the age of 18 looking to kickstart their careers in forestry! Find out more here.

If you’d like to find out more about hedgerows, head to Hedgelink.org. You may also be interested in these HedgeTalk webinars hosted by The Tree Council as part of National Hedgerow Week 2021.

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Join us for Life on the Hedge, the podcast to set you on the path to a blossoming career in nature. At the heart of our series? Hedgerows! These hidden heroes are the UK’s largest wildlife habitat and are crucial in the fight against climate change. In each episode, you’ll hear from amazing young people as they explore the magic of hedges whilst giving us the inside scoop on what it’s like to work in conservation, forestry, horticulture and more. So what are you waiting for? Get listening!

The Tree Council created Life on the Hedge as part of the Close the Gap project, funded by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

#LifeOnTheHedge

treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge 

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Today we’re off to Penpont in the Brecon Beacons as 30 young volunteers and future conservationists undertake a mission to plant 3,000 trees in a day, restoring a degraded hedgerow.

Forrest Hogg invites us to his family estate where farms, tenanted communities, makers, growers and eco-tourism businesses meet within a vibrant cultural scene.

Samuel Harpur, National Park Warden, also grew up locally. He and Forrest chat about why it matters more than ever to cultivate biodiversity and restore sustainable landscapes. Sam shares insights into day-to-day life as a National Park Warden and Molly Singleton from Action for Conservation explains why it’s so important for young people to pursue all the fantastic opportunities on offer to work with trees and the environment.

We also hear from Sophie Pavelle, zoologist and author, on her upcoming new book and what advice she has for young people wanting to make the leap into nature conservation.

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treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge

Penpont has teamed up with Action for Conservation for The Penpont Project, their youth-led nature restoration programme. Run by a Youth Leadership Group of twenty 12-18 year olds from diverse backgrounds, the team is working in partnership with farmers and landowners to restore habitats and ecosystems.

Sam is a Warden at Brecon Beacons National Park. Wardens are the eyes and ears of the National Parks and often have an unparalleled knowledge of the local history, ecology and culture of the area Head to the National Parks website where you’ll find some useful videos showcasing the day-to-day life of a warden (or ranger as this role is also known).

Interested in exploring wardening as a career? The National Trust & The National Parks have apprenticeship opportunities, but there are many routes into this career.

Inspired by Forrest and his team of volunteers? If you fancy planting your own hedge, this handy step-by-step guide is a great place to start. For lots more information and advice related to hedgerows, go to hedgelink.org.uk

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In this episode we meet Sasha Georgiades, a trainee with the Devon Rural Skills Trust. She’s spent the last four years learning how to become a hedgelayer and invites us to work with her in Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot.

Sasha teams up with Chris Stanton, an instructor, and fellow trainee Joseph Orpen for some hands-on hedgelaying! We find out what exactly hedgelaying is, whilst they discuss the importance of encouraging young LGBTQ people - and those identifying as women - to consider rural careers.

We also hear from Megan Gimber from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species on the history, culture and importance of hedgerows in our landscapes.

Find out more:

treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge 

Sasha and Joseph are currently on the Devon Rural Skills Trust training scheme, who also run weekend courses for those wanting to try out hedgelaying.

There are many organisations who run similar schemes and courses, which is a great way to explore whether hedgelaying is for you! The Rural Skills Hub currently has funded training opportunities for those looking to pursue a career in this area and the National Hedgelaying Society is a great resource for anyone interested in finding out more about this traditional countryside skill.

Fancy yourself as a hedgelayer? Hedgelink.org is great place to start, packed with hedgy related resources and advice. 

If you’d like to find out more about hedgelaying, what it is and why it’s good for our hedgerows, watch Nigel Adams talk on The Art and Craft of Hedgelaying, hosted by CPRE Shropshire. 

You may also be interested in these HedgeTalk webinars hosted by The Tree Council as part of National Hedgerow Week 2021. 

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In this episode, horticulture trainee Paula Ilut tells us why she’s passionate about preserving our future landscapes with tree planting. 

We head to Moor Trees in Devon where Paula joins Darryl Beck, a Tree Nursery Officer, to discuss their mission to restore the native woodland of Dartmoor and South Devon and cultivate new woodland and hedgerows from tens of thousands of local seeds. 

We’ll join them as they plant out the Guelder rose seedings Darryl’s been tending and find out how community gathering schemes and plant nurseries are helping create a resilient Dartmoor where wildlife and people can thrive in the future.

Mollie Higginson, NewLeaf Sales Representative & Co-Founder of the Young People in Horticulture Association, shares her top tips on how to make it in the world of horticulture. 

Listen to Life on the Hedge, a podcast from The Tree Council, and find out what it’s really like to have a career in nature from young people making a difference through jobs they love. 

Find out More

treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge 

Daryll and Paula work for Moor Trees, a charity on a mission to restore native woodland on Dartmoor and in South Devon.

Paula is currently studying for the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture alongside her traineeship with Moor Trees. 

If you’re interested in exploring horticulture as a career, take a look at the RHS, Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Young People in Horticulture Association. Horticulture has a diverse range of roles with plenty of opportunities. And like so many industries, as your experience grows, your salary potential grows too.

Interested in gathering seeds and growing your own hedge trees? Head to The Tree Council’s YouTube channel where the team at Moor Trees have produced some excellent videos on this very topic! 

If you fancy having a go at planting your own hedge, this handy step-by-step guide is a great place to start. For lots more information and advice related to hedgerows, go to hedgelink.org.uk

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Listen to Life on the Hedge, a podcast from The Tree Council, and find out what it’s really like to have a career in nature from young people making a difference through jobs they love. 

In the first episode of this series, we find out how hedgerows are helping farmers protect an abundance of wildlife, from birds to bumble bees, butterflies and fungi, in Herefordshire.

Katie Morgans invites us to Turnastone Court Farm along the banks of the River Dore. Katie always wanted to work with animals, but followed her nose to a placement here, which sees her working with tenant farmers and helping out on wildlife surveys.

Ruth Moss, a Wildlife Monitoring Officer at The Countryside Restoration Trust, takes us on a windswept bird survey to identify some of the species sheltering and feeding in the hedgerows here in the Golden Valley.

We also hear from Jonathan Drori, author of Around the World in 80 Plants, about his passion for trees and plants and why being curious is paramount to success. 

Find out more

treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge 

Katie and Ruth work for the Countryside Restoration Trust, a charity helping to restore farming landscapes and woodlands for wildlife. 

Ruth studied International Wildlife Ecology at the University of South Wales. Katie is currently studying for her Zoology degree at Harper Adams University.

If you’re interested in Wildlife Monitoring or Ecology as a career, check out this helpful page on the Prospects website. It details routes into work, role responsibilities and salary advice. 

Volunteering is great way to gain experience in this field. Why not get in touch with your local wildlife charity to see if they have any volunteering positions available? Conservationjobs.co.uk and Environmentjob.co.uk list volunteering opportunities at home and abroad. You can also go on courses to learn new skills, there are many providers out there including The Field Studies Council.

Interested in how hedges support wildlife and biodiversity? Head to Hedgelink.org to find out more. People’s Trust for Endangered Species have also created this handy leaflet on the benefits of hedgerows on farms.

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You might be surprised just how biodiverse our urban environments can be. But hedgerows can play a huge part in keeping our towns and cities bursting with wildlife, whilst helping our physical and mental health too.

This time we meet young people working with London Wildlife Trust in the UK’s leafy capital city. Bobbi Benjamin-Wand invites us to Norwood Park in South London, home to 30 types of trees as well as diverse wildlife. Find out about the history of the Great North Wood which once stretched across a vast area and today lives on in the parks, gardens, cemeteries and railway embankments here!

Bobbi’s job is to help young people get out and engage with the wonderful wild spaces that exist in our capital city. She introduces us to Chantelle Lindsay, a Wildlife Project Officer and Max Lawson, the Assistant Project Officer, as they lead a team of volunteers to work on a hedgerow they’ve planted around one of the park’s recreation areas.

We’re also joined by Cheryl Duerden, a forester and arborist, who talks to us about her journey into conservation and the world of trees. 

Listen to Life on the Hedge, a podcast from The Tree Council, and find out what it’s really like to have a career in nature from young people making a difference through jobs they love.

Find out more

treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge 

Bobbi, Chantelle and Max work for The London Wildlife Trust and are all Keeping it Wild traineeship alumni. 

If you’re interested in a career in nature conservation, check out this helpful page on the Prospects website. Conservation Careers is another useful resource, providing career advice and job and volunteering opportunities. 

Nature conservation is a fulfilling but competitive career choice. Gaining experience is paramount and volunteering is a great way to do this. You can take Max’s advice and join a The Wildlife Trusts volunteer event or have a look to see if there are any suitable paid traineeships in your area. 

Check out Hedgelink for information on the numerous benefits hedgerows provide in urban and rural areas. Want to have a go at planting your own hedge? This handy step-by-step guide is a great place to start. And don’t forget to check out our Top Ten Tips for a healthy hedge! 

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