Ms Shirley Clerkin:

There is huge potential throughout the country to improve connectivity of loads of habitats and to think about hedgerows for their value in flood buffering, nutrient absorption, biodiversity, connecting up areas of native woodland and creating a much more resilient landscape, which we will need for climate change. The landscape will need to be more resilient and be able to withstand intense rainfall events, drought, fire and other events. Hedgerows are very important for all of these reasons. It is definitely something that would add to our response.