The ancient craft of hedge laying is experiencing a strong revival as farmers use techniques that peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries to boost wildlife, capture carbon and help tackle flooding.

Hedge laying, which restores and revives mature hedges to keep them fresh, was among the four most popular categories of capital grants selected by farmers out of a total pot of £225m provided by the government this year to support practical environmental improvements on farms and across the countryside.

The 2,500 farmers across England who applied for grants to restore and maintain their mature hedgerows using a craft that dates back thousands of years, will – if the grants are approved – lay 1,300km (800 miles) of mature hedgerows, enough to stretch from Land’s End to Hadrian’s Wall and back.