What is a Hedgerow?
Ideally, a hedgerow should be 4 or 5 metres wide, of unlimited length, planted with a variety of berry- and seed-bearing shrubs for food, and interspersed with cedar for added cover. It should be thick, bushy, largely unpruned and entangled with vines. However, those of us living on small urban plots need not despair. Even a short, narrower hedgerow can be attractive to wildlife, if you follow the basic rules of mixed planting. And if you can convince your neighbours to join you in planting connected hedgerows, so much the better.
A hedgerow is a line of plantings which are trained to grow together to create a dense barrier known as a hedge. The practice of hedge laying is ancient, with evidence to suggest that neolithic humans were among the first to use hedges. Hedgers, professionals who specialize in laying hedges, are found primarily in Ireland and United Kingdom, although they work in other regions of the world as well. Hedgerows can be made with trees, shrubs, plants, and grasses. A number of factors can dictate the materials used, including the purpose of the hedge, the climate, and the aesthetic preference of the person laying the hedge. Some hedges are hundreds of years old, requiring periodic relaying and maintenance. These examples of living history are under increasing threat, and some steps have been taken to protect them from destruction. One of the most basic reasons to establish a hedgerow is to create a barrier, which may be symbolic or practical. Practical barriers can be used to contain livest
“A bustle in your hedgerow,” the enigmatic line in Led Zep’s “Stairway To Heaven” classic, has mystified music mavens for decades. Hopefully, the following will sprinkle a scintilla of elucidation and edification upon this cryptic conundrum. A hedgerow is a hedge that surrounds many estates in Britain. Bustle, or noise or activity, used in this sense, means a disturbance close to home. Something’s happening in your world! It’s just a spring clean for the May Queen. Spring cleaning is an old domestic ritual cleaning meant to do away with the troubles of the past year and prepare for the coming year, and often includes disposing of old, useless things that have been lying around. The May Queen was a maiden chosen by a village to represent the hopes and potential for the coming year. She was a symbol of beauty, spring and new beginnings. So here, as an analogy, the lyric refers to getting rid of old and outdated systems in order to allow progress to occur. OR it can refer to menarche, or
