ABSTRACT
A rich and diverse community of mammals is an important, perhaps undervalued, component of farmland biodiversity. Hedgerows and field margins contribute to the conservation of mammals through provision of resources such as food, shelter and nest sites, and as corridors facilitating movement through the landscape. These linear habitats are used by a range of farmland mammals, including species of conservation concern, such as harvest mice and dormice, and those which can be perceived as problematic, such as foxes and badgers. This chapter synthesises key literature on the use of hedgerows and field margins by farmland mammals, exploring the aspects which influence this and how restoration and management of these habitat features can optimise their benefits for mammal conservation.
