Judith's Hedge: changes in the botanical diversity of a species-rich ancient hedgerow over 40 years

Judith’s Hedge in Cambridgeshire is believed to be a relic of woodland formed by clearance and field creation in the 11th century and marks both a parish and a hundred boundary. It has sections that differ in their history and in their recent management. The entire length of the hedge (> 1 km) was surveyed in contiguous 5 m plots in 1971, 1998 and 2011, recording the presence of woody species in the hedge and of three ground flora species (Anemone nemorosa, Mercurialis perennis and Hyacinthoides non-scripta). This paper reports the results of this exceptional resurvey. Between 1971 and 1998 there was a decline in species richness in all sections of the hedge, particularly in the woodland ground flora. However, following control of deer numbers and the re-introduction of hedge laying, by 2011 there had been a marked recovery in the ground flora species, whilst the hedgerow composition remained largely stable.