Alliance “Dead Hedges” in Prospect Park to Tackle Invasive Plants

July 15, 2024

Prospect Park Alliance’s Landscape Management team is no stranger to putting creative strategies into action to support Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest. From leveraging the power of the sun, sheet mulching with cardboard, releasing beneficial ladybugs and even welcoming a herd of goats to keep the park green and vibrant—the team is constantly implementing innovative techniques in their work sustaining Prospect Park. Throughout the past two years, you may have spotted intricately woven bundles of branches throughout the park’s forest. While these seem to naturally blend in with the surrounding trees and shrubs, these bundles, called “dead hedges,” are intentionally placed, natural fences that help compost invasive plants while enriching the forest floor and supporting woodland habitats.

Dead hedging is a technique that dates back to the early Bronze Age, and is a labor of love for the team and the dedicated volunteers that support restoration efforts throughout the park. Building dead hedges involves the careful stacking of naturally downed branches and newly removed invasive trees, which are then covered by newly removed invasive plants. Over time, the hedges slowly break down. As they compost in place, the hedges boost the health of our forest by enriching the soil with nutrients from the decomposing plants and branches, while reducing the Alliance’s carbon footprint and bolstering our work to sustain the environment.

“Dead hedging is a technique that we are implementing throughout our 350 acres of natural areas,” explains Mary Keehbauch, Deputy Director of Landscape Management. “When the Alliance thinks about woodland restoration and sustaining the park, we are doing so with a holistic approach. We are carefully considering how areas of the park meld together to create a healthy connected ecosystem for both wildlife and people to enjoy. What can we do today that not only restores these critical and varied ecosystems, but how we can implement more sustainable methods into our practices?”

Prospect Park Alliance volunteer with a freshly made dead hedge. c. Kendra Srebro, Prospect Park Alliance.

During the decomposition process, the dead hedges come alive with insects and other wildlife, providing much needed food and habitat for the countless species that live in our forested natural areas. Species ranging from microorganisms, insects, chipmunks, squirrels and birds all call these hedges home. The hedges also serve as natural barriers, encouraging park users to stay on paths and helping to prevent erosion on slopes, and this helps native plants to flourish and thrive. “Often, just with the act of removing invasive species, the dormant native seeds that have been waiting patiently to grow have the light and space they need,” shares Keehbauch on the successes of restoration. 

Restoration work doesn’t end at building the hedges alone. Once invasive plants are removed and built into the dead hedges, the Alliance undertakes the next step in boosting the longevity of our beloved forest: intentionally seeding and planting the cleared areas with climate-adapted native species. By planting species that will continue to thrive in the park ecosystem despite the effects of climate change, the team works to ensure that our green gem in the heart of Brooklyn will be enjoyed by Brooklynites for generations to come.

Small seedlings growing in the Sugar Bowl, a woodland area across from the Picnic House in Prospect Park. The Alliance focused invasive removal efforts here in Spring 2023 and the regrowth of native species is already prominent. 

Park-goers can also help support park’s natural areas by staying on designated paths, admiring park wildlife, flora and fauna from afar, and not disturbing the dead hedges as they work their decomposition magic. “When we think about ecology, we’re thinking about the connections among all living beings, from the tiniest microbes in the soil, to insects, birds and mammals (including humans) to the largest, oldest trees—and all of their relationships with their climate,” shares Prospect Park Alliance Landscape Manager Hannah Sassoon.

While the dead hedges are still in their early stages in the park as the lengthy process of decomposition is underway, the Alliance will continue to monitor and evaluate the success of this new tactic over time and continue to implement these hedges in strategic locations to help our park thrive.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s work sustaining our environment and how you can Be a Park Champion.