|barrier = hedge|
|A line of closely spaced shrubs and tree species, which form a barrier or mark the boundary of an area.|
|Rendering in openstreetmap-carto|
|Used on these elements|
|Tools for this tag|
barrier=hedge is used to identify a line of closely spaced shrubs and tree species, which form a barrier or mark the boundary of an area. Hedges may be actively managed, but this is not always the case.
Large Hedges or Field and Road Boundaries
Hedges are most notable at a landscape level when they create field, road, and large property boundaries.
These hedges commonly contain many species, many of which have self seeded within the hedge.
They are commonly only managed to maintain the function as a barrier. Some of these type of hedges have become poorly managed in recent decades with landowners repairing gaps in hedges with barbed wire.
They can be centuries old and have legal protection.
Small Hedges and Urban or Garden Hedges
Much smaller formal hedges can also be used in areas such as parks and gardens.
These hedges commonly consist of a single species. Maintenance commonly goes beyond simply maintaining the barrier function, but also includes maintenance for making the hedge visually appealing.
How to map
Although there is a major difference between a small single-species garden hedge and a massive multi-species field boundary hedge, they are currently both mapped as Hedges.
Create a line along the length of the hedge. Where a hedge joins another hedge use a shared node. If there are substantial gaps in the hedge then end that line, leave a gap and create a new way for the next section. If there is a fence adjacent to the hedge to make it stock proof, it is preferable to map the hedge if only one barrier is to be mapped.
Mark a gate or stile in the hedge by creating a node on the way at the appropriate location and tagging it with barrier=gate or barrier=stile or similar. For a short gap consider using an entrance=* node. Mark lone trees using natural=tree. For a thick hedge draw a closed way around the perimeter of the hedge and tag it with area=yes.