Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the (1) planting, and (2) restoration, of hedgerows in England.

Hedgerows make a valuable contribution to climate change, our countryside and nature and we are already investing heavily in this crucial habitat. There are currently 79,741km of hedgerows with one, or both sides managed under Countryside or Environmental Stewardship options and we’ve supported 11,800km of hedgerow creation or restoration through Countryside Stewardship capital grants. Defra will continue to encourage and support hedgerows through our environmental land management schemes, including providing funding through the addition of a new Hedgerow standard as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in 2023.