WILLING hedge-hunters are needed to take part in a summer survey of the region's hedgerows, writes Countryside Reporter Lisa Frascarelli.

Little is known about the location, condition and age of the county's verdant barriers but it is hoped research collected by volunteers taking part in the Cumbria Hedgerow Survey will change that.

The scheme, which is headed by scientists at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Merlewood Research Station, Grange-over-Sands, will see hedgerow-hunters take to the countryside in June.

Project leader and self-confessed "hedgerow nut" Colin Barr explained: "This work is being carried out because it is required as part of the Cumbria Biodiversity Action Plan. We have to decide what constitutes important habitats and species in Cumbria.

"Ancient and or species rich hedgerows are an important habitat in Cumbria and we don't know how much we have got and of that total how many are ancient. This survey will help answer those questions."

The Cumbria Biodiversity Action Plan, which was assembled by the organisations of the Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership, aims to co-ordinate efforts to conserve and enhance the region's most threatened habitats and species.

With the permission of farmers and landowners the survey will focus on 500 sites around 200 of those in South Lakeland and Furness.

Volunteers, who do not need experience but should be able to identify common shrub species, will have to record details of the trees and other plant life in the hedgerows.

Training days will be held in April and May at Preston Patrick, Broughton-in-Furness, Caldbeck and Cockermouth.

Mr Barr a scientist at CEH, Merlewood, said a survey of this scale had never been carried before and added the research would allow regeneration work to be carried out.

"We want to assess the extent of research how much habitat and condition it is in and where we can target money to help improve it," he said.

He added the region's hedgerows, around one quarter of which have been lost since the 1940s, provided an important habitat for wildlife and plantlife including woodland birds, the rare dormouse and wildflowers.

For more information on the training days and getting involved in the project call Colin Barr or Rick Stuart on 015395-32264 or email cjb@ceh.ac.uk.

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April 17, 2003 12:00