Planting hedgerows: Biomass carbon sequestration and contribution towards net-zero targets.

Agroforestry practices, such as hedgerow planting, are widely encouraged for climate change mitigation and there is an urgent need to assess their contribution to national 'net-zero' targets. This study examined the impact that planting hedgerows at different rates could make to UK net-zero goals over the next 40 years, with a focus on 2050. We analysed the carbon (C) content of native hedgerow species and determined hedge aboveground biomass (AGB) C stock via destructive sampling of hedges of known ages.

Removal of mesh track on an upland blanket peatland leads to changes in vegetation composition and structure.

Mesh tracks on peatlands are often granted permits on a temporary basis under the presumption that the tracks are either removed at the end of their permitted use or remain unused in situ. However, the fragility of peatland habitats and poor resilience of the specialist plant communities within them, mean that these linear disturbances may persist post-abandonment or post-removal. We removed sections of mesh track, abandoned five years earlier, from a blanket peatland using two different removal treatment methods (mown and unprepared) and studied a third treatment with sections left in place over a period of 19 months.

Surface structure on abandoned upland blanket peatland tracks.

Temporary permissions are often granted for track use on peatlands. However, even when peatland track designs attempt to minimise environmental impacts via use of mesh systems, such linear disturbances may have persistent impacts. We evaluated the surface peatland structure of five abandoned tracks (four with a mesh surface, one unsurfaced) with varying past usage frequencies, at an upland site in northern England.

Soil carbon sequestration potential of planting hedgerows in agricultural landscapes.

Realising the carbon (C) sequestration capacity of agricultural soils is needed to reach Paris Climate Agreement goals; thus, quantifying hedgerow planting potential to offset anthropogenic CO emissions is crucial for accurate climate mitigation modelling. Although being a widespread habitat in England and throughout Europe, the potential of hedgerows to contribute to net-zero targets is unclear. This is the first study to quantify the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rate associated with planting hedgerows.