What is the best shaped hedge for gamebird nesting?

Most pheasants and partridges which nest in hedges choose sites in the grassy vegetation of the hedge bank, rather than right into the woody cover of the hedge itself. As a result, hedge management should be aimed at keeping shading of this area to a minimum.

So, the best scheme is to keep the hedge fairly low, cutting back to no more than 2 metres, and to keeping the sides trimmed to a vertical. Trimming to an ‘A’ shape results in a wide base, which shades out more of the nesting cover.