A special habitat

The diversity of the hedgerow landscape

Heckenlandschaft bei Ramosch – Engadin Scuol Zernez – Andrea Badrutt
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In the Lower Engadin, numerous hedgerow landscapes can be admired, which represent important habitats for a variety of animal and plant species. Farmers who plant and maintain hedges make an important contribution to biodiversity and habitat connectivity. This achievement was recognised with the first hedge championships in 2020.

What is a hedge?

But what exactly is a hedge and what plants does it consist of? The hedge consists of a stocked area in the middle and a herbaceous border on each side. The borders measure about three metres each, and the stocked area should also be about three metres wide. The herbaceous margin is extensively cultivated, which means that it is characterised by tall grass in summer and thus provides an ideal refuge for insects. The shrubs that give the hedge its typical character grow on the stocked area in the middle of the hedge. Here, for example, these are blackthorn, rosehip, barberry, hazelnut, buckthorn or rowan.

Heckenlandschaft in San Niclà, Tschlin in der Ferienregion Engadin Scuol Zernez

Award Ceremony 1st Hedge Championship

The prizes for the most beautiful hedges were awarded at the festival in Tschlin in October 2020. 22 farmers from all over the Lower Engadin entered their hedges. A total of 38 hedges were judged.
Learn more about the hedges of ranks 1 to 3 (in German)

How the jury proceeded for the evaluation was documented in the ALLEGRA magazine.
To the ALLEGRA article (in German)

Tschlin eingebettet in der Unterengadiner Bergwelt und Naturlandschaft von Engadin Scuol Zernez
Val Plavna im UNESCO-Biosphärenreservat Engiadina Val Müstair – Travelita

On the road with nature experts

On excursions and hikes you can stimulate all your senses and see the undiscovered under expert guidance and reward curiosity about it with valuable knowledge.

To the program (in German)
Zeichnung einer Hecke – Fundaziun Pro Terra Engiadina

Discover hedges yourself

Make your own way through the terraced landscapes of the Lower Engadin and discover the diversity of hedges. The comparisons of the hedges during the different seasons are also especially fascinating.