The Hedge Pledge

For the majority of my life hedges have been one of those things that were just... there, their sole purpose being to act as some natural cushioning should you become involuntarily separated from your bike on a country lane. However they play a much more important role than natures health and safety for airborne cyclists. Hedgerows are the vital stitching in the patchwork of our countryside. Not only are they beautiful, with shifting seasonal colours, but they also provide homes and corridors for wildlife. And all the while they help tackle the climate crisis by capturing carbon. To highlight the importance of Englands hedgerows, the countryside charity CPRE created The Hedge Pledge. I was commissioned to create the illustration for this piece to be used as a tool for children or adults alike, classes, groups or organisations to ‘make official’ that commitment to helping out the humble hedgerow.