Devon Hedge Group says it is delighted with the number of completed questionnaires coming in from people all across the county, reporting on distinctive hedges in their locality.

The group has been calling people across the county to help make the first ever map showing this rich diversity.

Rob Wolton, co-chair of the Devon Hedge Group, said: 'We are really pleased with the support we've had already but we need as many people as possible from across Devon to tell us what they think makes the hedges in their area distinctive.

'The county is far too large for us to be able to visit every part, and besides hedges vary greatly with the seasons.

'With enough help, we can produce an attractive map that will celebrate Devon's extraordinary hedgerow heritage for all to see, and help to ensure it's still there for generations to come.'

The group wants to find out what makes the hedges in each part of Devon distinctive. One particularly exciting find in East Devon has been Aspen trees present in some hedges — a scarce tree in Devon and a species with a rich fauna and folklore associated with it. The Aspen is now so sparsely scattered that sexual reproduction is probably very rare (the males and females are on separate trees) — instead the future of the tree depends on vegetative reproduction from suckers and may well have done so for centuries.

It is quite possible that the trees now found in hedgerows are the same individuals that colonised the hedges back in Medieval times, or perhaps even earlier — there is a similar aspen in the States where clones are thought to be at least 10,000 years old.

If you know of a distinctive hedge near you and can help the group with their map, you are asked to complete the quick and easy questionnaire at http://www.devon.gov.uk/hedges">www.devon.gov.uk/hedges If you don't have access to the internet, contact Sally Parker or Kate Nicholls at Land Use Consultants for a paper copy. The consultation will run until Sunday.

The map will be put on the web and made into a poster and help to ensure that the local character of hedges is celebrated and preserved.