In England, where there have been hedgerows at least since the time of the Romans and possibly longer, they were used, as they were later in the US, as living fences to keep livestock separate from crops. This led to certain types of intensive management, to keep them bushy and dense enough to serve as fences.

Where do hedges come from?

Origin of rural hedgerows

Hedges can originate in a number of ways. They may be woodland (assart) hedges, formed out of woodland trees/shrubs left as remnants after woodland clearance. They may derive from scrub growing on boundaries between cultivated fields or they may be planted with individual or a mix of species.

Are hedgerows natural?

Hedges are living products of human synergy with nature. Wildlife thrived in them. Some retained the floral signature of the original woodland, sheltering specialist woodland species such as bluebells and speedwells, while the extra sunlight encouraged aprons of edge-lovers to colonise the sward either side.