Hedgelands

A wild wander around Britain’s greatest habitat

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing UK

Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize 2024 for Nature Writing

‘[A] joyously readable book— it riffs along like breeze in the hedgerow.’ John Lewis-Stempel in Country Life

‘Hart’s passion for the potential that resides here is intoxicating. Occasionally an environmental solution comes along that is so breathtakingly simple you can’t believe that not everyone is already doing it.’ Sunday Times

‘[Hart] has written an eye-opening and inspiring book which will leave you with a deep appreciation of these wonderful habitats’ Daily Mail

In this joyous journey around the wild edges of Britain, Christopher Hart takes us through the life, ecology and history of the humble British hedge, showing us how this much-loved (but somewhat overlooked) feature is inextricably woven into our language, history and culture.

Hedges – or hedgerows – have long been an integral part of the British landscape; a bastion of privacy for our gardens, a protective presence on winding country lanes and a vital hiding place for birds and beasts on farmland.

This man-made marvel is finally getting its time in the sun. Recognised as an environmental hero and a powerful climate ally, hedgerow is now considered the greatest edge habitat on earth, offering thorny scrub, mature woodland, grassland and even wetland. It plays a critical role in carbon sequestration and provides essential protection against the elements.

Hedgelands highlights the hawthorn and hazel of ancient hedges; the abundance of wildlife, from the elusive dunnock to the striking nightingale, the industrious hedgehog to the little harvest mouse; and the free pickings that the hedgerow offers, making it an essential – and delicious – element of any countryside ramble.

Hedgelands will tell you everything you never thought you needed to know about this wild, diverse and rich habitat – and you might even look at your humble hedge in a whole new way.

Hedgelands combines history, celebration, lament and warning. Christopher Hart is a companionable writer, and makes a powerful case that, at a time of ecological hazard, well-nurtured hedges can play an astonishing role in buttressing the future.’ The Spectator

‘A wonderful history of the threads that stitch the British countryside together.’ Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer

‘A passionate celebration and exploration of our wonderful hedgerows. You’ll be swept along by Hart’s intoxicating enthusiasm.’ Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth

Awards

  • 2024 James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing

Reviews and Praise

  • ‘A glorious anthem to the hedge! The sleeping giant that is waiting to be nurtured back to life-giving health. This wonderful book fires the imagination and will change the way you look at a hedge forever. And never was there a more urgent time to restore our degraded hedges into the lifelines they should be – for our beleaguered wildlife and for ourselves. Endlessly fascinating and teeming with ‘Wow!’s. A must read for anyone who wants to help restore ecological health to our countryside.’

    Keggie Carew, author of Beastly


More Reviews and Praise


About The Author

About Christopher Hart

Christopher Hart has written ten novels published to date, both literary and historical, including Lost Children and Rescue Me, while his historical fiction, written under the pen name of William Napier, includes Julia, the best-selling Attila trilogy and the Last Crusaders trilogy. His work has been praised in both The Times Literary Supplement and the Sunday Sport. He has also published numerous short stories, essays and reviews, and has been a freelance journalist since the 1990s, for The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and others. He lives in Wiltshire, where he is rewilding seven acres and a hedge.

Books By Christopher Hart

Pages:208 pages
Book Art:8-page colour insert
Size: 5.05 x 7.8 inch
Publisher:Chelsea Green Publishing UK
US Pub. Date: July 17, 2025
UK Pub. Date: July 17, 2025
Paperback: 9781915294722

Available In/Retail Price

Paperback, 208 pages, £12.99GBP