Bristol Water is improving biodiversity at Blagdon Lake using ancient hedge laying techniques which will provide wildlife with improved nesting spots.
Blagdon Lake, a 440-acre reservoir and trout fishery in the Mendip Hills, has a rich history of diverse wildlife which Bristol Water is focused on enhancing.
The water company identified the thinning hedgerows around the lake, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as an important area of focus.
An SSSI is an area of high conservation value with a particular interest to science due to the rare species and important habitats contained within.
Typical hedge trimming techniques, which use heavy machinery, can leave hedges sparse, creating unfavourable living environments for local animals like birds, hedgehogs and insects.
Since starting the project in January 2026, a team of hedge laying experts, led by Mike Reed, have been painstakingly restoring the hedgerow using an ancient technique which sees trimmed base stems laid horizontally.
This method allows light into the bottom of hedgerows to promote dense, vertical regrowth which in turn provides cover for animals and birds in the winter months.
Alongside hedge laying, the team are planting additional hedgerow species and deciduous trees beside the new hedges to enhance the biodiversity profile in the area.
So far around 1,800 meters of hedge has been laid, but the project will be halted during nesting months to ensure no nesting birds or other species are disturbed by the work.
The project will take two years, during which time it is expected a host of species will return to the area.
Mike Reed, Hedge Laying Specialist, said: “We’re regenerating the hedges to give them a new lease of life so they can provide better natural habitats for a whole range of local wildlife.
“So many of our farmland and countryside birds are endangered, as are hedgehogs, so creating these spaces for them to live and nest in is more important than ever.
“Hedge laying is a historical craft with a strong local tradition and I’m proud to be passing it onto the next generation through this work. We’re grateful to be involved in this wonderful Bristol Water project and working at this beautiful location.”
Simon Hughes, Treescape Officer at Bristol Water, said: “Blagdon Lake is a very special place with an amazing number of birds and other wildlife all living here. With this in mind, we identified an opportunity to increase biodiversity within the hedgerows to improve nesting places and habitats for birds and other mammals.
“By adapting our approach to the way these hedges are maintained, by using hedge laying instead of heavy machinery, it won’t be long before we will start to see a complete transformation in the hedgerows and it’s exciting for all of us at Bristol Water to be a part of creating this significant and important change.
“We’re very lucky to have Mike and his team of specialists working on this project and sharing their knowledge and craftsmanship with our teams.”