Hedges are a special feature of the landscape, dividing up arable fields and linking many of the eras of woodland together.  They are important corridors down which wildlife can travel, providing food , shelter and safety for birds and animals.  It is often possible to age a hedge by simply counting the number of tree species found.

Find a hedge, which ha slots of older, large trees in it, that way you know it hasn't been planted recently.  As you walk along the hedge, roughly estimate thirty metres and count the number of different species in that length, it doesn't matter if you're not a tree expert, just look for the number of different leaf shapes you find.