Hedgerow plant communities, including herbaceous species growing in the hedge base, are important conservation indicators of hedgerow habitat condition. The effects of management have the potential to alter the species richness and composition of hedgerow plant communities, but this has not previously been tested experimentally. A novel field experiment was used to test the effects of hedgerow management on hedgerow basal flora. Hedgerow cutting treatments, including relaxed cutting regimes funded under agri-environment schemes, were applied in replicated blocks at four sites in lowland UK. After 6 years of experimental cutting treatments the hedgerow plant communities were surveyed, both directly under the woody hedgerow vegetation and immediately adjacent to the hedges. For hedgerow plots cut in autumn, a reduced intensity cutting regime (incremental cutting) resulted in an average reduction of one species and a small shift towards plants typical of less fertile conditions, compared to cutting back to a standard height and width. Hedgerow plots cut in late winter had a plant community typical of slightly shadier conditions, compared with those cut in autumn. Hedgerow cutting management can thus alter the richness and composition of plant communities, over relatively short timescales. These results are discussed in the context of longer term trends in hedgerow plant communities across northern Europe, and conservation management funded under agri-environment schemes.

绿篱植物群落，包括生长在绿篱基地的草本物种，是绿篱生境条件的重要保护指标。管理的效果有可能改变树篱植物群落的物种丰富度和组成，但是以前尚未进行过实验测试。使用新颖的田间试验来测试树篱管理对树篱基底菌群的影响。在英国低地的四​​个地方，在重复的街区中采用了绿篱切割处理，包括在农业环境计划下资助的宽松切割制度。经过6年的试验性砍伐处理后，对树篱植物群落进行了调查，既直接在木质树篱植被下，又紧邻树篱。对于秋天的​​绿篱地块，与削减到标准的高度和宽度相比，减少强度的砍伐制度（渐进砍伐）导致平均减少一种物种，并向不那么肥沃的典型植物小幅转移。与秋季切割的相比，在冬季晚些时候切割的绿篱地块的植物群落通常条件略暗一些。因此，在相对较短的时间内，对树篱的修剪管理可以改变植物群落的丰富程度和组成。这些结果是在整个北欧树篱植物群落的长期趋势以及在农业环境计划资助下的保护管理的背景下进行讨论的。与削减到标准高度和宽度相比。与秋季切割的相比，在冬季晚些时候切割的绿篱地块的植物群落通常条件略暗一些。因此，在相对较短的时间内，对树篱的修剪管理可以改变植物群落的丰富程度和组成。这些结果是在整个北欧树篱植物群落的长期趋势以及在农业环境计划资助下的保护管理的背景下进行讨论的。与削减到标准高度和宽度相比。与秋季切割的相比，在冬季晚些时候切割的绿篱地块的植物群落通常条件略暗一些。因此，在相对较短的时间内，对树篱的修剪管理可以改变植物群落的丰富程度和组成。在北欧树篱植物群落的长期趋势以及在农业环境计划资助下的保护管理的背景下讨论了这些结果。