Boundaries and Corridors
What?
Fences, walls, hedges and verges aren’t just edges — they’re lifelines for wildlife. These boundary features can link gardens, fields, schools and workplaces into continuous corridors that allow species to move safely, feed and nest. When we make our boundaries greener and more permeable, we connect our spaces to the island-wide living network that keeps nature thriving.
Where?
Everywhere: gardens, allotments, business sites, schools, farms and community spaces. On the Isle of Wight, hedgerows, field edges, chine valleys and green lanes form the natural backbone of the Biosphere’s ecological network. Every connected boundary helps bridge gaps between urban greenspace, countryside and coast.
How?
Let wildlife pass through. Leave small gaps (around 13 × 13 cm) at the base of fences for hedgehogs, toads and small mammals.
Choose green boundaries. Replace solid fencing with native hedges or climbing plants on trellis or wire mesh.
Fill gaps in existing hedges using species like hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, field maple and dogwood.
Mix heights and textures. Layer shrubs, tall herbs and ground cover to create variety for nesting and shelter.
Plant verge and edge strips. A 1–2 m band of long grass or wildflowers along paths and walls acts as a mini-wildlife highway.
Reduce tidying. Allow hedge bases to thicken and sections to flower or fruit before trimming in late winter.
Link planting across boundaries. Coordinate with neighbours — connect flower strips, hedges or tree lines to form continuous corridors.
Soften hard edges. Add marginal planting between paving and fences to buffer noise, filter runoff and provide nectar.
Enhance verges and buffer zones.
Cut and collect clippings once or twice a year to lower soil fertility and promote wildflowers.
Rotate mowing so some sections stay long each season.
Expose small patches of bare soil for solitary bees.
Add small mounds, hollows or pits to create wet and dry niches.
Create vertical links. Use climbing plants, planters or rain chains to connect ground-level greenery with walls, roofs and balconies.
When?
Plant or repair hedges and edge vegetation in autumn or early spring. Carry out hedge trimming or verge cutting outside the March–September nesting season. Leave some refuge areas uncut each year, especially through winter.
Why?
Corridors and connected boundaries are vital for wildlife to move across the landscape. They support pollination, seed dispersal, and breeding success while reducing isolation of habitats. On the Isle of Wight — where the landscape is compact and diverse — every joined-up fence, hedge, verge and green lane helps maintain the Biosphere’s living network and allows species to adapt to climate change.
Actions for Isle of Wight Species
Hedgehogs rely on linked gardens and fence gaps to roam and forage safely.
Bats follow hedgerows and treelines as flight paths between feeding sites.
Bees, butterflies and hoverflies use continuous flower strips and verges for nectar and shelter.
Frogs, toads and newts move between ponds using vegetated corridors.
Red squirrels benefit from connected hedges and tree canopies in rural and suburban areas.
Birds including sparrows and wrens nest in dense, untrimmed hedges and feed on insect-rich verges.
Resources
Hedgehog Street – Linking Gardens and Creating Highways
Buglife – B-Lines: Pollinator Corridors