October 6, 2025
Kaidi Tingas
Two hundred and fifty metres of biodiversity added to the arable landscape
Last week, on a day that was simultaneously windy, rainy, and sunny, we brought in reinforcements to continue work on the hedge and tree-lined avenues that we started last year at Mäemõisa, at one of our cooperation partners in the enrichment of agricultural landscapes project. This time, we planted a two-row hedge consisting of hawthorns, currants, and Antonovka apple cultivars. A total of 465 plants were placed in the soil.
However, this is only part of a four-kilometre hedge that will connect the forest areas on opposite sides of the field. The result will be a movement corridor for arthropods and small mammals, bringing biodiversity, birds, pollinators, and many other natural benefits to the fields. For Marian Nummert, the young housewife from Mäemõisa who designed the edible hedge, it is important that passers-by are able to pick fruit from the trees and bushes as they walk past.
The hedge strip, in turn, borders on the grassland strip, complementing each other and bringing more biodiversity to the fields.
When we planted the hedge last year, we experimented with different mulches, but this time we only used cardboard and wood chips, which appear to be the most effective combination in preventing weed growth.
Last Tuesday’s collective action day was just a small taste for the next one, which we held with Lidl’s employees, who have a strong work ethic and a commitment to environmental sustainability. More on that later!
