36 new hedgerows will improve habitat for Scops owl and bats
In April 2021 we carried out the project activity of planting 3000 m of new hedgerows within the Natura 2000 site Goričko. The main aim of this activity is to improve the habitat of the Scops owl, bats and biodiversity in general. Hedgerows are linear structures of shrubs and trees, often marking the borders between different owners or parcels. Belts of shrubs and trees often occur on uneven ground, like terraces or road edges. Hedgerows are diverse habitats and are inhabited by different species of insects, birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The newly planted hedgerows will provide new habitat for all groups listed above. These animals however forage for food on meadows and fields. Hedges are therefore an important habitat of organisms who carry out biological control.
Hedgerows are important landscape feature 
G. Domanjko
Bats use hedgerows not only for foraging and as a shelter but also for orientation. Hedgerows are important feature in creating microclimate, they moderate wind speed and give a mosaic cultural landscape typical appearance. The hedgerows planted within the project were mainly planted on land managed by the Goričko Nature Park Public Institute. Hedgerows were planted at least 1 m from the parcel edge with an aim to enable enough space for branches. In total 36 hedgerows give total length of three kilometers. Saplings of different species of shrubs and trees are planted at a distance of half a meter.
Saplings were planted in a straight line D. Kuronja
In total 6000 saplings of typical shrubs and trees, like black alder, wild cherry tree, wild pear tree, field maple tree, cornelian cherry dogwood, common dogwood, hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle tree, hazel, wayfaring tree, guelder rose and dog rose, were planted.
Hawthorn M. Podletnik
