On the right - just before the trees and where the river flows down to Llanina is the hedge near to where the cottage 'Rhyd-y-pennau' was located - see our Mr Jacob's Lily page about its previous inhabitants.

Consequently we consider the same dating method as valid in this area.

The wildlife-value of a hedge is therefore only partly related to age (which might confer a more complex invertebrate or microrhyzal community for example), the more important biodiversity features of hedgerows being their condition, species richness and connectivity with other semi-natural habitats in the landscape.

Good condition for a hedgerow has recently been defined in the Defra’s Hedgerow Handbook in order to help monitor the status of hedgerows across the UK.

There is plenty of practical detail, ranging from the mechanics of organising a systematic survey, to finding the funds to do so.

It also gives the alarming assessment that Reason enough to continue to record and survey hedges.