Native Conservation Hedge Collection

• Variety: Native Conservation Hedge Collection, six species in one bundle
• Sold as: Bareroot, in packs of 50 plants, 60/80cm or 90/120cm tall
• In the pack: Half hawthorn, the other half split between five more native species chosen by us
• Plants per metre: 3 in a single row, 6 in a staggered double row
• One pack plants: 16m of single row, or 8m of double row
• Type: Deciduous
• UK native: Every plant in the pack
• Thorny: More than half the plants
• Grants: Meets the BN11 plant rules. Use the 60/80cm size for grant work
• Good for: Country boundaries, field hedges, wildlife
• Similar packs: Blackthorn-based mix (sheep country), stock-friendly mix (horses and cattle)
• Plant: November to April, while the plants are dormant
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Collection from Castle Cary also available

The Native Conservation Hedge Collection is a bareroot pack of 50 native hedge plants: half hawthorn, the rest five other native species. One pack plants 16m of single row or 8m of staggered double row, in 60/80cm or 90/120cm plants.

Native Conservation Hedge Collection

Our Conservation hedging pack is a bundle of 50 plants made up of 6 native species, with a Hawthorn base, which is the most popular base for hedges in most of Britain.

Which Native Hedge Mix?

• A Blackthorn base is preferred in some areas. It's traditional for sheep enclosures, and may be better for bees.
• For large livestock, horses and cows, our blackthorn free stock-friendly mix is extra safe.

This conservation hedge pack exceeds the minimum requirements for grant-aided planting, such as BN11: Planting New Hedges: our Countryside Stewardship hedge pack with only two native species is the cheapest that qualifies.

What a Conservation Hedge Is For

• Is ideal for all thorny country hedges (use our stock-friendly mix around horses & cows)
• Goes that extra step to support diverse wildlife
• More than qualifies for Countryside Stewardship grants (e.g. BN11: Planting New Hedges)

We will choose the plants that go into the hedge mix from the following list, which may change between the time of ordering and the time of despatch.
We cannot accept requests for specific plants to be used in your pack.
To be certain of having a particular plant in your hedge mix, please order it separately.

What Goes into the Pack

• 50% Hawthorn
• 10% each of 5 other native species (chosen by us): Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Dog Rose, Common Dogwood, Field Maple, Guelder Rose, Hazel, Spindle, Sweet Briar Rose or Wayfaring Tree.

This pack is made up of tough native plants that will grow almost anywhere.
It's perfect for supporting wildlife and increasing biodiversity.
More than half the plants in each bundle will be thorny.

Conservation hedge packs are only delivered bareroot, during winter (November to April).
The plants in this pack will be either 60-80cm or 90/120cm tall when we deliver them.
All our hedge plants are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).
For most projects, we recommend using the smaller, 60-80cm size hedge pack.
Use the larger plants if you are in a hurry to get a mature hedge, or are filling gaps in one.

View our selection of hedging packs or see our full range of hedging options.

Please note: when you receive our mixed hedging packs, they'll not be already mixed and will be bunched by plant species.
Please remember to mix them for best results.

Spacing a Conservation Hedge

You can plant conservation hedging at 3 plants per metre, 33cm apart.

However, to qualify for the BN11: Planting New Hedges Grant, you must plant at 6 plants per metre in a staggered double row, with 33cm between each plant along the row and 40cm between the rows.

Each pack of 50 plants will make 16m of single row, or 8m of double row hedge.

Elderflower is excellent for wildlife, and it's fine to plant right at the end of a hedge row where it can grow away from its neighbour. We don't include it in hedge mixes because it's a bit too aggressive.

Planting Companions

A country hedge wants a tree in it every so often. An English Oak standard planted in the line is the traditional choice, and there are more to pick from among our native British trees. At the foot, native bluebells flower before the hedge leafs up. Dust the roots with Rootgrow as you plant, and read how to plant a bareroot mixed native hedge before you start. Single species for gapping up are all in our native hedging plants.

Why Ashridge for Your Hedge

Ashridge hedging is grown for one job, to be a hedge, under contract by specialist UK growers. It is lifted to order and held in a cold store, so yours arrives dormant and fresh. Which? named us Best Plant Supplier 2025, and every bareroot plant is guaranteed for 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many metres of hedge does one conservation pack plant?

One pack of 50 makes 16m of single row at three plants a metre, or 8m of staggered double row at six. Measure the run, divide, and round up: spares fill the gaps a rabbit makes.

Should I plant a native hedge in a single or a double row?

A single row at three plants per metre is the garden standard. A staggered double row at six per metre, rows 40cm apart, is thicker, turns stock, and suits deciduous natives best.

Can I choose which species go in my hedge pack?

No. Half the pack is always hawthorn and we choose the rest from the list above. If you must have a particular plant, order it separately and mix it in.

What is the difference between the conservation mix and the stock-friendly mix?

Blackthorn. The conservation mix includes it and more than half the pack is thorny. The stock-friendly mix leaves blackthorn out, which makes it the one to plant around horses and cattle.

When is the best time to plant a bareroot native hedge?

Between November and April, while the plants are dormant, on any day when the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged. Water through the first summer: drought is what kills new hedges.

Does the conservation hedge pack qualify for the BN11 grant?

Yes. BN11 wants native species, none making up more than 70 per cent of the mix, at six plants per metre in a staggered double row. This pack is half hawthorn. For grant planting, choose the 60/80cm size.