Why a mixed native hedge earns its keep

A single row of native shrubs is the hardest-working habitat you can fit into a small garden. It gives birds somewhere to nest and roost, supplies berries and hips through the lean months, and offers nectar and pollen for bees, hoverflies and moths. Unlike a fence, it slows the wind, soaks up rain and gives privacy without blocking light the way a solid panel would. Even a three-metre run along a boundary makes a difference; five or six metres and you'll see real wildlife traffic.

The trick is to plant a mix rather than one species. Different shrubs flower and fruit at different times, and variety is far more useful than a neat block of a single plant.

Choose species to suit your soil and light

Start by looking at what you have. Wet clay, thin chalk and a sheltered sunny wall each call for a different palette. All the shrubs below are British natives or long-established introductions, and all can be kept manageable in a small plot.

• Hawthorn — the classic hedgerow shrub. Tolerates most soils, dense and thorny for nesting, white May blossom and red haws.
• Blackthorn — early nectar and sloes, but it suckers. Best in a wilder corner where spreading is welcome.
• Hazel — happy on clay, good for catkins and nuts, and coppices well to stay compact.
• Field maple — a tough small tree for heavy or chalky soil, with lovely autumn colour.
• Holly — slow-growing and shade-tolerant, with berries for thrushes and winter shelter. Plant both sexes for fruit.
• Dog rose and guelder rose — flowers for insects, hips and berries for birds.
• Crab apple — blossom, fruit and good autumn leaf colour.

On thin chalk, add beech or hornbeam; on damp ground, alder buckthorn and dogwood. In shade, stick to holly, hazel and field maple. Mix at least four or five species so something is always in flower or fruit.

Planting a small hedge properly

Bare-root plants are cheap, establish fast and should go in between November and March, whenever the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged. Prepare a strip about 60cm wide, clearing grass and weeds — this is the single biggest factor in success. Fork over the soil and add a bucket of well-rotted compost per metre if you can.

For a dense wildlife hedge, plant a double, staggered row with 30–40cm between plants. That sounds tight, and it is, but a thick base is what birds want. A five-metre hedge takes roughly 25–30 whips. Water them in, then mulch with 5–8cm of bark or compost, keeping it clear of the stems. Water regularly for the first two summers, especially in dry spells. Rabbit guards are worth the small cost if you have hungry wildlife about.

Pruning that keeps the wildlife coming

The worst thing you can do is cut hard every year. That strips away flowers and berries and disturbs nests. In the UK, it's also an offence to cut hedges between 1 March and 31 August under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, so plan trimming for late winter or early autumn.

Aim for a light trim every two or three years, and cut on a rotation if you can — one section one year, another the next. Always leave some shrubs unpruned so they can flower and fruit. If you must tidy, do it straight after flowering so new growth can carry next year's berries. Cut a hedge into an A shape, wider at the base, so light reaches the bottom and it stays dense all the way down.

What you'll attract, and when

In spring, blackthorn and hawthorn blossom feed early bees and hoverflies. By summer, dog rose and guelder rose are in flower, and dense thorny growth is prime nesting territory for dunnocks, robins and finches. Autumn brings haws, hips and sloes for blackbirds, thrushes and fieldfares. In winter, holly berries and evergreen shelter help small birds survive cold nights. Moth caterpillars use native shrubs as food plants, which in turn feeds bats and birds.

Small-space tweaks that make a big difference

With only a couple of metres, plant three or four shrubs and let them grow into a loose screen. Leave a gap at the base — a 10cm opening here and there lets birds and hedgehogs move through. Don't clear fallen leaves from under the hedge; they're a larder and a shelter. Add a small log pile or a bundle of hollow stems beside it for overwintering insects. Skip pesticides: a few aphids will soon be cleaned up by ladybirds and blue tits. A pot-grown hedge on a balcony can work if you choose compact species and keep them watered. With patience, a small native hedge becomes the busiest part of the garden.