Friends have this winter trimmed the large beech hedge in Crabtree Fields. We reduced the height of the hedge by about 30 cm and gave the sides a light trim to encourage thickness.

Volunteers used hand tools and the work was done over a couple of weeks in February. It will need a further trim at the end of August. If clipped it doesn’t shed its leaves, and provides a year-round dense screen, which provides a great habitat for garden birds.

Beech is native to Britain and makes an important habitat for many butterflies. Its foliage is eaten by the caterpillars of a number of moths, including the barred hook-tip, clay triple-lines and olive crescent. The seeds are eaten by mice, voles, squirrels and birds.