Hedges, live fences

Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana

Elhuyar Zientzia

Those of stone are walls; those of earth, those of embankment; those of siege, can also be done with bracing... They are fences used to delimit and close land. There are other types: hedges, living plants. They are common in Euskal Herria, have many functions and are important characteristics of the landscape. Or would it be more correct to talk about hedges in the past? And they are losing.
Hedges, live fences
01/09/2006 | Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana | Elhuyar Zientzia Komunikazioa
(Photo: Goimen)

Plant hedges or hedges are formed by living trees and/or shrubs. Some have only trees, some have only shrubs, and many have both. They can have one or more species and can be arranged in long, thin rows or in groups. Everything, with what objectives are put.

In fact, plant barriers perform many functions, and thus select some species or others: with edible, deciduous or perennial fruits, with numerous or few branches...

Sweet closures

One of the functions of plant barriers is livestock conservation. To do this, thorny plants are placed between them that prevent the animals from crossing the barrier. In that case it is like the bracing. But the plant barrier has a number of unsurpassed benefits for livestock.

When the sun heats a lot, the hedge offers shade and freshness to the cattle. In wind, it gives protection, as they slow the wind force by 40-50%. This makes udder pain more difficult than being exposed to wind in distressed dairy cows. In airborne diseases, hedges make it difficult for microorganisms to pass from one side to the other.

One of the functions of plant barriers is livestock conservation. To do this, thorny plants are placed between them that prevent the animals from crossing the barrier.
A. Galarraga

In addition, plant barriers, if properly placed, help prevent the generation of sludge and/or drying of existing ones, so they help

to prevent nail diseases, such as foot and mouth disease. Finally, plant sprouts, leaves and fruits are a valuable dietary supplement for animals and flowers for generous sources of bee raw materials.

Efficient sponsors

In addition to animals, hedges protect farmland and orchards, especially from the wind. This prevents the entry of seeds from the surrounding herbs, thus avoiding the need for herbicides or the need to work so much to eliminate weeds. Likewise, plant barriers prevent the breakage of growing fruit branches, thus preventing the appearance of diseases. They also help not to overthrow calves.

The hedges smooth strong chubascos, pedriscos and galernas, being especially beneficial on the coast to prevent the salt provided by the sea wind reaches the field.

Hedge plants serve to make stakes or baskets and bear fruit.
Goimen

In general, hedges also help to attenuate temperature variations. For example, when the sun hits hard, they prevent the field plants from becoming too transpired, so they do not water. Incidentally, they prevent evaporation of soil water and contribute to night dew. In spring, the temperature around hedges is somewhat higher, which favours crop growth. Finally, winter ice is softer than open spaces and, when neve, plants are protected under hedges.

Moreover, in rainy areas, the waters prevent the conduction of minerals from the soil. Leaking from the soil, water carries magnesium, lime, phosphorus, nitrogen, sodium and other minerals. The minerals remain in the lower layers of the soil, where the roots of the field plants do not reach. Yes, however, of hedge trees. They absorb the minerals and then, by losing their leaves, return them to the earth's surface. Plant barriers therefore help regulate the water and mineral cycle.

Plant barriers also protect the soil, avoiding landslides, as plant roots of hedges stabilize the soil. In this way, they reduce flooding by torrential rains and dry the muddy ones.

In addition, hedges cushion noise and night artificial light and absorb wind dust. In fact, they have shown that plant barriers manage to eliminate 38% of the dust generated by the wind. And trees are especially capable of absorbing heavy metals.

If plant barriers have other benefits, they are also a source of other resources and for landfills. On the one hand, hedge trees can be used to obtain wood, such as steps, stakes or tool handles. Hedges can also give raw material for making baskets and baskets, and if not otherwise, give wood for fire.

In part, machining has caused the loss of hedges.
MEC

On the other hand, many hedge plants bear fruit: chestnuts, hazelnuts, nuts, cherries, pears, blackberries... And since time immemorial, flowers, buds or barks have been used as medicinal plants, such as white hawthorn, willow or bramble.

Without being directly related to the hamlet, hedges are also of vital importance to wild animals and plants in the area. They are places of residence or refuge of numerous species, as well as suitable places of passage, since they connect fields of cultivation with meadows. In addition, they facilitate the recovery of abandoned land.

To not lose more

However, in recent decades many plant barriers have been lost. Agricultural mechanization, urbanism, industry, transport infrastructure, etc. have caused an alteration of the landscape that has been disappearing as one of the most outstanding characteristics of the landscape, the hedges.

This loss has sometimes been worrying and projects have been created to protect and promote hedges. For example, Goimen, an association working for the development of rural areas of Gipuzkoan Goierri, has published a book: Trees and shrubs in rural areas. The brochure covers the evolution of rural barriers, the benefits they report in agriculture and the quality of life of society, design and care tips, plant tokens, etc., and is presented more widely.

European Union grants for landscape conservation could curb the loss of hedges.
Archive

In other countries, such as Britain, the bet on hedges is even more evident. Many things have also been lost there, and they have seen that this has negatively influenced biodiversity. Therefore, they now have solid projects to boost hedges.

The European Union also considers hedges. It used to reward farmers who had great benefits, so it fostered intensive farming and livestock. Later they realized that it is essential to take care of the environment. Consequently, it now grants subsidies for extensive agriculture and livestock, for the creation of ecological products and for landscape conservation, including hedges. This can help stop the loss.

Numerous and varied species
In most cases, hedge plants partly represent the forest that existed there. In deforestation they are usually heirs of the plants that were allowed to grow in the same place, or of the specimens taken from the surrounding forest to make the hedge. However, external plants such as bilberry, rude, rosemary are also used...
Chestnut
(Photo: A. Galarraga)
Among the native plants are those of great variety of sizes and characteristics. In trees, for example, long trunks and a pond are distinguished. The first ones reach 12-20 meters in length and begin to branch over 3-4 meters, such as oak and beech. The txara, meanwhile, begins to branch below and reaches a height of 8-12 meters. The branching from below is achieved by cutting trees every several years, using chestnut trees and maples, among others.
The shrubs can also be distinguished according to height: the highest (white hawthorn, laurel) reach 5-6 meters, while the small ones (cornice, laurel) do not grow more than two or three meters.
Against hedges?
Despite the benefits of hedges, some believe they also have difficulties. For example, they reduce the agricultural or livestock area. However, the loss is not very high, 2-5%, and it should be noted that it increases performance.
Some consider that when soil water, light or minerals are scarce, field or grass plants must compete against hedges for resources. However, they often do not compete, but contribute to the plants of hedges loosening too deep water and minerals.
Many others accuse him of being a refuge for beasts. It may be so at some point, but normally there is a balance between predators and prey that helps prevent evils and pests.
Of course, it is undeniable that the planting and conservation of plant barriers gives rise to work, but also to the conservation of other types of closures. In any case, the care of the hedges located between the land of the two owners can cause problems if the owners do not agree on the tasks to perform or the characteristics of the hedge. But is that not due to the hedge?
Galarraga de Aiestaran, Ana
Services
223
2006
Information
Venezuela
Environment; Agriculture; Livestock
Article
50%
Babesleak
Eusko Jaurlaritzako Industria, Merkataritza eta Turismo Saila