Hedges are often overlooked features of our landscape but they are now the subject of a project which aims to record their history and diversity.

With some dating from more than a thousand years ago and providing a habitat to a wealth of wildlife, hedges are an enduring and important part of rural life.

The hedges of Devon come in a great variety of different shapes and forms and Devon Hedge Group is appealing to people across the county to help make the first map showing these rich variations.

Rob Wolton, co-chairman of Devon Hedge Group, said: "From the beech trees of Exmoor and granite-faced banks of Dartmoor through the elm and hazel hedges of the lowlands to the gorse and windswept trees of the coast, Devon has a remarkable range of different sorts of hedge.

"The Devon Hedge Map will, for the first time, capture this variation for all to see at a glance."

The map is being produced by Devon Hedge Group with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The group is made up of organisations and individuals interested in working together to promote the appreciation and conservation of the county's hedges.

"Devon's hedgerows are truly world class," said Mr Wolton. "Most of our hedgerows are ancient, many being built and planted by our ancestors a thousand years or more ago. That's older than most of our parish churches. Through their rich and intricate patterns, they tell the story of Devon's landscape and farming traditions over many centuries. They are also home to a great wealth of wildlife including threatened species like the dormouse.

"We need people from all over Devon to tell us what they think makes the hedges in their area distinctive.

"The county is far too large for us to be able to visit every part, and besides hedges vary greatly with the season. But if we get enough help, we can produce an attractive map to celebrate Devon's extraordinary hedgerow heritage for all to see, and help to ensure it is still there for the generations to come."

In particular, the group wants to record the features that make the hedges in each part of Devon distinctive.

"For example, we would like to know if the banks are constructed in a particular way, or if they have special shrubs growing on them," said Mr Wolton. "Perhaps they have unusual or striking herbs growing on the banks or margins or contain trees of a particular type or shape."

Once all the information has been gathered and analysed, it will be made into a map, which will be put on the internet and made into a poster.

Anyone wishing to take part can complete a questionnaire at www.devon.gov.uk/hedges or call Sally Parker on 0117 9291997.