Hazel Scrub BNG Units
Medium
Heathland and shrub
Widespread across lowland and upland Britain in woodland edges, field margins and successional habitats
Trusted by Developers and Landowners
What are is Hazel Scrub?
Hazel scrub is a native scrub habitat dominated by hazel, typically forming dense multi-stemmed shrubs or coppice stools usually less than 5 metres in height. It commonly occurs along woodland edges, ride margins, hedgerow networks and as transitional scrub developing on former grassland or farmland.
Hazel scrub provides structural habitat for birds and small mammals and produces nuts, catkins and leaf litter that support invertebrates and woodland food webs. It may also function as a transitional habitat facilitating woodland regeneration.
Why It Matters for BNG
Hazel scrub contributes to the calculation of habitat units but carries a lower weighting than priority habitats such as heathland or ancient woodland. Where hazel scrub is present on a development site it forms part of the baseline habitat units.
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Where You'll Find It
Hazel Scrub occurs in woodland margins, hedgerow networks, valley slopes and areas of secondary scrub developing on abandoned farmland or pasture. It is often associated with ancient woodland landscapes and limestone or base-rich soils, although it can occur on a range of soil types.
Soil & Site Requirements
Hazel scrub develops on moderately fertile mineral soils including brown earths, calcareous soils and base-rich loams. It commonly occurs on well-drained slopes, woodland edges and field boundaries where grazing pressure or periodic cutting maintains shrub dominance rather than allowing succession to closed woodland.
How New Hazel Scrub is Created
Inputs
• Establish hazel as the dominant shrub species.
• Use locally appropriate planting stock where possible.
• Plant on suitable mineral soils with moderate fertility.
• Ensure adequate spacing to allow development of multi-stemmed shrub structure.
Management
• Protect young shrubs from grazing during establishment.
• Allow shrubs to develop dense multi-stemmed growth.
• Control invasive or non-native scrub species.
• Monitor establishment and regeneration.
Landscape
• Create scrub along woodland edges or habitat corridors.
• Integrate with hedgerows, woodland margins or grassland mosaics.
• Avoid isolated small patches that lack ecological connectivity.
How Existing Hazel Scrub is Improved
Inputs
• Remove invasive species where present.
• Encourage regeneration of hazel through coppicing or thinning.
• Reduce excessive shading from adjacent woodland.
Management
• Maintain structural diversity through rotational coppicing.
• Retain multi-stem shrub structure.
• Monitor scrub condition and regeneration.
Landscape
• Maintain connections with adjacent woodland and hedgerow networks.
• Prevent fragmentation of existing scrub stands.
• Buffer edges from intensive agricultural management.
Target Condition
Hazel scrub in Good condition shows:
• Dominance of hazel within the shrub layer
• Dense, multi-stemmed shrub structure
• Limited cover of invasive or non-native species
• Evidence of regeneration or active management such as coppicing
• Structural diversity within the scrub stand
The BNG Value of Hazel Scrub
• Distinctiveness: Medium
• Condition Potential: Moderate uplift where structural diversity, hazel dominance and active management (e.g. coppicing) are maintained or improved
• Restoration Pathway: Primarily enhancement through coppicing, thinning and invasive species control, with new creation achievable over medium timeframes
• Strategic Value: Valuable scrub habitat within woodland edge systems and ecological networks, supporting connectivity between woodland, hedgerows and open habitats
Species Typical of Hazel Scrub
Dominant Shrub Layer
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Associated Shrubs
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Dog rose (Rosa canina)
Ground Flora
Dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis)
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Wood avens (Geum urbanum)
Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hazel Scrub?
Hazel scrub is a native scrub habitat dominated by hazel typically forming dense multi-stemmed shrubs along woodland edges, hedgerows or transitional habitats.
How is BNG measured for Hazel Scrub?
BNG is measured using habitat units, calculated from habitat area, distinctiveness, condition and strategic significance within the statutory Biodiversity Metric.
How can I achieve BNG with Hazel Scrub?
BNG can be achieved by creating new hazel scrub on suitable sites or improving the condition of existing scrub through management such as coppicing and invasive species control.
What is the BNG target condition?
Target condition focuses on hazel dominance, dense multi-stem shrub structure, limited invasive species and evidence of regeneration or active management.
What management is required?
Management typically involves rotational coppicing, controlling invasive scrub and maintaining structural diversity within the shrub layer.
Exploring Other Habitats?
Hazel Scrub
Hazel scrub is a native scrub habitat dominated by hazel, typically forming dense multi-stemmed shrubs or coppice stools usually less than 5 metres in height. It commonly occurs along woodland edges, ride margins, hedgerow networks and as transitional scrub developing on former grassland or farmland.
Hazel scrub provides structural habitat for birds and small mammals and produces nuts, catkins and leaf litter that support invertebrates and woodland food webs. It may also function as a transitional habitat facilitating woodland regeneration.
Lowland Heathland
Lowland heathland is a semi-natural habitat dominated by dwarf shrubs growing on nutrient-poor, acidic soils in the lowland zone, generally below about 300 metres above sea level. The vegetation is typically dominated by ericaceous species such as heather, bell heather, and cross-leaved heath, often with gorse species.
Lowland heathland usually occurs as a mosaic habitat, containing patches of dwarf shrub heath alongside acid grassland, bare ground, scattered scrub or trees, and occasionally wet heath or small bog areas.
Bramble Scrub
Bramble scrub is a dense scrub habitat dominated by bramble , typically forming thick thickets between 2 and 3 metres in height. It commonly occurs along woodland margins, grassland edges, road and rail embankments, brownfield land and other disturbed areas as part of natural vegetation succession. All bramble scrub parcels are also recorded as poor condition in the metric, regardless of their structure or species composition.
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