To celebrate MNTV’s 40th anniversary (we were founded in April 1986), volunteers gathered at Alderley Edge today for a special conservation project: planting a new native hedge which will stand as a living tribute to four decades of MNTV’s work - and with care and patience will continue growing long into the future.
If you'd like to find the site, park in the layby just at the top of the hill as you drive out of Alderley on Macclesfield Road (B5087), cross the road, walk south down a footpath and after about 5 minutes you’ll find a field on your right with a nice white NT sign . Walk along that path and the hedge will be along the fence to your left.
In total, 420 saplings were planted, generously donated by the Woodland Trust as part of their “Wild Wood” Tree Pack. The pack includes a diverse range of native species that should thrive in the local conditions: Downy Birch, Hazel, Holly, Hawthorn, Goat Willow and Crab Apple. These species will eventually form a dense, wildlife-friendly hedge providing food, shelter and nesting sites for birds, insects and small mammals.
There are already some mature trees beside the old fence and the new hedge will go between these trees. We started by laying a string line between the trees and calculating how far the hedge would go.
We needed to plant two rows 15” apart with the plants in each row 18” apart and the rows staggered so there was a plant roughly every 9” along the hedge. This arrangement will help the hedge grow thick and robust over time.
The work paused for a well-earned morning break featuring three different cakes, kindly provided by Christine - refreshments worthy of a 40th celebration. As everyone rested, the group enjoyed the sounds of birdsong and watched a bumblebee fly past. With the warmer spring weather arriving, it was a reminder that nature was already waking up around us.
After the break, volunteers paired up and continued planting in teams of two. Each pair worked steadily along the line, placing a random mix of tree species to create a natural, varied hedge.
Later in the day, as the planting neared completion, a few members of the group explored further across the field. They removed plastic tree guards from other trees nearby and took the opportunity to admire some of the impressive houses overlooking the area. One particularly dramatic property was quickly nicknamed the “Bond Villain’s Lair.” Unfortunately, the combination of razor wire and CCTV cameras made photography feel a little too risky!
By the end of the day the planting was complete. At the moment the hedge may not look like much - just rows of small saplings and bamboo canes along a fence - but with time, careful trimming and traditional laying, it will grow into a thriving boundary full of wildlife and character.
More importantly, it will stand as a living monument to everything MNTV has achieved over the past 40 years - and a reminder of the work still to come in the decades ahead.
We hope to return many times in the future to care for the hedge as it grows, ensuring that this anniversary project continues to flourish for the next 40 years and beyond.
Jenny
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