Bullfinches are beautiful but declining birds of woodland edges and hedgerows. Their welfare depends on habitats that are disappearing from the British countryside.
Bullfinch welfare is linked to hedgerow and woodland edge quality. Without diverse, mature hedgerows containing ash, hawthorn, and bramble, bullfinches cannot find the food they need through winter. Loss of hedgerows through removal and poor management - cutting too frequently and too hard - removes the berry and seed sources bullfinches depend on. Allowing hedgerows to grow tall and thick, cut on a two or three year rotation, directly improves bullfinch welfare and population stability.