England's HEDGES are long enough to go around Earth 10 times! Incredible maps reveal the vast network that crosses the English countryside

They provide a home for birds and insects, keep soils healthy and even help the fight against climate change. Now, due to their importance to the English countryside, scientists have created the most comprehensive maps yet of England's hedges. The scientists used LiDAR – a technology that emits pulses of light to create 3D images – to identify the hedgerows' locations and measure their heights. According to the results, there are 242,000 miles (390,000km) of fully-grown hedges in England – enough to go around Earth nearly 10 times. Counties with the most hedges are Cornwall, Somerset and Derbyshire, while those with the least include Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.