Hedging for holiday parks and campsites

Start with the park layout and operating requirements

A hedge should fit the operator's approved layout and any site conditions that apply. Caravan site licences can include layout requirements, so check the particular arrangements for your park before adding planting between units or moving a boundary. Do not choose a separation distance from a generic planting guide.

Keep fire access, emergency routes and required clear spaces free of planting. A hedge does not replace the site's fire precautions. On the working plan, show where vehicles turn, where pedestrians cross and where staff need an open view. Review those points at the hedge's intended mature dimensions.

Discuss your planting requirements

Choose how much enclosure each area needs

A short hedge can mark a pitch without enclosing it completely, while a taller boundary may suit the outer edge of the park. Decide where guests need a garden feel and where staff need to see across the site. Keep entrance signs, wayfinding and turning areas readable.

Compare the supplied starting height with the finished effect you have in mind. Gaps between young plants will take time to close. For year-round foliage, compare compact English yew, the broader leaves of cherry laurel and the smaller, darker foliage of Portuguese laurel. Each needs enough growing room to stay within the planned boundary without obstructing neighbouring pitches.

Evergreen hedging · Planning hedge privacy

Check different parts of the park separately

A sheltered reception garden and an open touring field can have very different conditions. Note wind exposure, shade, drainage and the soil beneath the grass. On coastal sites, consider the actual exposure to salt-laden wind rather than assuming a plant that grows inland will suit every pitch.

Check which established hedges are growing well in similar parts of the park. Look for wind scorch, sparse growth, waterlogged ground and sections where roots compete with existing trees before choosing the species. Where a hedge runs across several soil conditions, deal with those differences before ordering one long row. Keep the planting strip separate from the area vehicles use so young plants have space to establish.

Choose a hedge for the site

Make the care practical during the busiest months

Pitch hedges create many separate runs to water, weed and trim. Count the access gaps as well as the total hedge length when planning the work. Leave a sensible route for grounds equipment and a way to reach both faces without using occupied pitch space unnecessarily.

Allocate establishment checks before the first guests arrive. Plants can need water during dry weather even when the grass still looks green, so check the root area. Record the intended height for each zone and review growth before branches narrow paths or obscure the view at road junctions.

New hedge aftercare · Hedge trimming

Quick guide to spacing and quantities

Use the table below as a starting point for common hedging choices. Spacing per metre depends on the size supplied and how quickly you need a closed screen. A double staggered row can produce a deeper, denser hedge, provided the bed has enough width. It uses more plants than a single row, so calculate quantities using the double-row figures rather than simply doubling the single-row total.

Measure each run in metres, subtract openings and multiply by the plants per metre for your chosen species and size. Check the final quantity against the available product sizes and root types, and consider allowing a small number of spare plants where replacements may be needed during establishment.