Hedgerow management and the yield of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna berries

Manage hedgerows to benefit wildlife (includes no spray, gap-filling and laying)

A replicated study of hedgerows in Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire, England (Sparks, Robinson & Downing 2000) (same site as (Sparks & Martin 1999)) found that hawthorn Crataegus monogyna berry yield was significantly reduced when management involved removing fruit-bearing wood.  Yield was significantly higher in sections that had been laid (282 g/2.5 m²) or uncut (219-421) than those that had been cut (4-10), coppiced (3-26) pollarded (70) or grubbed out (0). Yield differences were due to greater numbers of berries rather than increased berry size. At Monks Wood, the dry matter content was significantly higher in uncut sections; this was not the case at Drayton. At Drayton there were five randomized replicate plots (12 m long) of the following five treatments: unfenced or fenced control cut annually; fenced uncut; coppiced; grubbed out and replanted with blackthorn. At Monks Wood, there were two randomized trials each of 10-12 (20 m long) plots that received 3-5 replicates of three (uncut, coppiced or laid) or two (uncut or pollarded to 1.5 m) treatments. Berries were harvested within each plot from five 50 × 50 cm quadrats on the side of hedges, 1 m above ground.