Hedgerows and field margins support vast numbers of animals. Agricultural intensification has devastated this habitat, causing enormous welfare harm to populations of birds, mammals, and invertebrates.
The loss of hedgerows and field margins represents one of the largest habitat-level welfare crises in British history. Animals that depended on this habitat faced population collapse — grey partridges, tree sparrows, turtle doves, and dozens of other species have declined by 90% or more since 1970. Each individual bird or mammal experiencing food shortage, displacement, or reproductive failure due to habitat loss experiences genuine welfare harm, even if it is less visible than direct killing. Pesticide drift into field margins kills invertebrates including bees, butterflies, and beetles — animals with growing evidence of sentience — in significant numbers.