New Forest wildlife hedgerow planted as royal tribute

Protectors were used to guard the new hedge against rabbits

A wildlife-corridor hedgerow has been planted in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Volunteers planted hawthorn, hazel, rowan, birch and oak along the hedge line at Rockford Common, near Ringwood in the New Forest National Park.

It is hoped the hedge will provide a "protective corridor" for animals to move between habitats.

The planting was part of the Queen's Green Canopy scheme set up to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The site in the north west of the forest, managed by the New Forest Trust, is part of the the New Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The roadside hedge had declined in recent years due to the effects of Dutch Elm Disease.

A team of volunteers planted the hedge on land adjacent to Rockford Common

Paul Walton, of the National Park Authority, said hedges were a "vital part of the countryside's ecosystem"

"A healthy hedgerow will be rich in species, including native shrubs and can provide bird-nesting sites as well as a home for some of our rarer animals, including hedgehogs and newts."

The Queen's Green Canopy - a nationwide project run by the Woodland Trust - aims to plant one million trees and hedgerows across the country as a living legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth II.