Hedgerow contents

The number of mature hawthorns in the hedgerows surrounding the 5 fields at Bear Mead near Wimborne in Dorset is ESTIMATED to be 359. In the middle of May these trees are covered in dense white flowers. This is the best time to count them from a distance and estimate How many hawthorn trees Which side of the deep hedgerow The total area of the 5 fields is 26 acres. Many of the hawthorns are very old, possibly dating back to 1815, when the Inclosure Act was applied to this part of Dorset. New landowners would have planted hawthorn and blackthorn along the borders of each field owned, to replace post-and-wire examined by the government surveyor. Much of this wire still exists at the base of the hedgerow. It is hoped a similar hedge-count will be made for blackthorn and wild rose in the same hedges later

Bear Mead by River Stour, 5 fields = 25 acres, showing hedge count (white), field count (blue) and total (red)

Common hawthorn in full flower by the River Stour, 18may2014

Common hawthorn in full berry in Bear Mead, 20aug2011

Bear Mead by River Stour, 5 fields = 25 acres, showing hedge count (white), field count (blue) and total (red)

Common blackthorn in full flower in Owen's Acre, 14apr2009

Common blackthorn in full berry in Bear Mead, 20aug2011

Bear Mead by River Stour, 5 fields = 25 acres, showing hedge count (white), field count (blue) and total (red)

Wild rose in full flower, 16jun2008

Wild rose in full berry in Bear Mead, 06oct2013

Ancient wire, single strand, 0.25 inch diameter, dating from 1815?

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