A new hedgerow for Lewes

On Sunday 8 February, five members of the Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes met with pupil representatives of Green United, their parents, and other volunteers for the final stage of a joint wildlife hedge project – planting day! Audrey Jarvis reports.

After a quick demonstration, the 30 people in the group skilfully planted and mulched 775 native whips at the border of the playing field of Priory School with Ham Lane. The trees are a mix of Hornbeam, Hazel, Dogwood, Field Maple, and Alder.

This new hedgerow will extend and enhance the green corridor between the Railway Land, Egret’s Way, Convent Field and Priory Park, creating food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

The team of school pupils and adults were a fantastic bunch of people who worked cheerfully, helped each other, and did a great job! We worked together so well that, amazingly, we had planted the 775 little trees and mulched them all in three and a half hours!

This wonderful day was funded by the pupils’ successful grant application to Tesco’s and supplemented by the Trees Committee.

Green United was created by young people in Lewes, supported by adults, in response to the climate emergency. The 2026 team includes representatives from Western Road School, Southover School, South Malling School, Priory School, and Lewes Old Grammar School.

Find out more about Green United here