Step-by-step guide to running a hedgerow tree age survey and submitting records to your local trust

When I want to understand the history hidden in a hedgerow, I run a simple age survey that combines field observation, a few quick measurements, and clear record-keeping. Over years of walking, photographing and surveying hedgerows across the UK I’ve found this approach reliable enough to build useful local data and to feed into county trusts and recording schemes. Below I’ll walk you through the steps I use, the kit I carry, how I estimate age, and where and how to submit the records so your work helps conservation and planning decisions.

Why do a hedgerow tree age survey?

Hedgerows are living archives: their species mix, structure and individual tree ages reveal past land use, old boundaries and ecological continuity. A hedgerow age survey can:

help identify ancient or historically important boundaries;

support local conservation and habitat connectivity assessments;

inform sympathetic management (laying, coppicing, gapping up);

contribute to local biodiversity records and national datasets.

What I take with me

I keep my kit lightweight and practical. Typical items in my rucksack:

measuring tape (at least 5 m) — ideally a flexible cloth tape for girth measurements;

compass or phone with GPS (I use my phone’s GPS and a paper map as backup);

notebook or survey sheets and a pen; I also use the iRecord app for digital notes;

camera or phone for photos of key features (base of trees, hedge line, gaps, boundary markers);

secateurs only if permitted for minimal sampling (usually avoid cutting);

personal kit: waterproofs, gloves, and an OS map if the area is rural.

Basic survey method: walk, record, photograph

Start by walking a defined length of hedge. For consistency with common hedgerow-dating approaches, I use a standard 30-metre length where practical (many traditional rules use c. 30 yards / ~27 m). For longer hedges I survey multiple adjacent 30 m stretches and treat each as a separate sample.

Record the exact location (GPS coordinate and map reference). I usually take a smartphone location and note nearby landmarks.

Photograph the overall view, both ends of the stretch, and representative close-ups of trees and shrubs.

Note management signs: recent trimming, laying, gaps, stock pressure, and adjacent land use.

Counting woody species (Hooper-style hedgerow age estimate)

A simple starting point is the species-count method often attributed to Hooper and others. In each 30 m section, list the woody species present — including small shrubs and tree species that occur within the hedge line (e.g. hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple, hazel, oak, ash, holly, etc.).

The rule of thumb used by many local groups is:

Method	Interpretation (approx.)
Count of different woody species in one 30 m section	Each species typically represents c. 100–110 years of age (very approximate)

I treat this as an indicative estimate rather than a precise date. If you find three different woody species in a 30 m stretch, that suggests the hedge may have origins in the medieval to early-modern period, but local management, planting, and species invasions can skew the count. Use this method as a screening tool to flag potentially ancient hedgerows for further investigation.

Estimating age from tree girth

For individual hedgerow trees (standard trees growing out of the hedge), measuring girth at 1.3 m above ground (circumference) gives another angle on age. The simple formula I use is:

Estimated age = measured girth / average annual girth increase

Because growth rates vary hugely between species, site fertility and exposure, I use conservative growth-rate ranges. Below is a rough table I use in the field to convert girth (cm) to an approximate age. Treat ranges as indicative.

Species	Typical circumference growth (cm/year)	Notes
Oak (Quercus robur / Q. petraea)	0.5–1.5 cm/year	Slow-growing; older trees common. Use lower rate for poor soils.
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)	1.0–2.5 cm/year	Faster growth where fertile; consider ash dieback effects.
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)	0.5–1.5 cm/year	Often multi-stemmed; measure largest stem or note multi-stem.
Field maple, hazel	1.0–2.0 cm/year	Shrubby forms are common; coppicing distorts age estimates.

Example: an oak with 180 cm girth and using 1.0 cm/year gives a ballpark age of 180 years. Using 0.7 cm/year gives ~257 years. Where a hedge tree is multi-stemmed from a low point, note that girth will overestimate age — record stem count and configuration.

Recording structure and associated features

Age is only part of the story. I always record structure and associated features, because these clues help interpret the age and significance:

hedge height and width;

presence of a ditch or bank (makes an old boundary more likely);

gaps and recent repairs (gapping up with hawthorn, new planting);

evidence of laying or coppicing;

adjacent veteran trees, earthworks or boundary stones.

Filling your survey form

Many local wildlife trusts and county ecological record centres provide templates. If you’re using your own sheet, include:

site name and grid reference;

date, start time and surveyor name;

length of hedge surveyed;

species list for each 30 m section and counts where appropriate;

girth measurements for trees, with measurement point noted (e.g. 1.3 m or base if buttressed);

photos keyed to numbered points on a plan or map;

management notes and any immediate threats (e.g. hedgerow removal, drainage).

Submitting records: where and how

I submit my hedgerow surveys to multiple places to maximise their use:

Local Wildlife Trust or County Record Centre — many trusts have recording forms and staff who integrate hedgerow surveys into Local Wildlife Site assessments. Check their website first for a hedgerow or boundary survey template;

iRecord — good for photographic evidence and site-level notes; it feeds into national datasets;

NBN Atlas (via local recorder) — more formal records often go into the NBN through local record centres;

Neighbouring landowners and parish councils — providing a copy can help when hedgerow management or planning applications arise.

When submitting, include the survey form (PDF), GPS points, and clear photos. If you think the hedge has historic importance, flag it as such and offer to discuss your findings with the trust or record centre.

Practical tips from the field

Be consistent: always measure at the same height for girth, and use the same section length for species counts.

Record accessibility and ownership if you can — it helps trusts approach landowners for conservation work.

Use photos liberally. A single photo of a tree base, the hedge line and feature (stone, ditch) adds context that numbers alone don’t convey.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution in age statements — describe methods and assumptions clearly in your record.

Next steps after submission

After I submit records, I follow up. Local trusts sometimes want clarification or an on-site visit. If a hedge is flagged as potentially ancient or ecologically valuable, I’ll stay in touch and offer to help monitor changes. Even a modest dataset of well-documented hedgerow sections can inform local planning discussions and targeted conservation work.

If you want, I can share my simple survey template and a sample completed sheet I use in the field — drop me a line via the contact page on Outdoorangus Co and tell me which county you’re working in. I often exchange tips with folk who run surveys in their local parish: consistency across surveys really helps build a useful local picture.