Nature Conservation Minister Ben Bradshaw visited a west Oxfordshire farm on Monday, September 1, to launch a national scheme to protect young trees growing in hedges.
The hedge tree campaign is an initiative by The Tree Council, in partnership with National Grid Transco, to protect hedgerow trees and nurture new ones.
Mr Bradshaw tied a bright red Tree Council tag to a sapling in a hedge on John Hartley's Coldstone Farm, in Shipton-under-Wychwood.
The tags make saplings more visible so anyone cutting hedges knows to avoid them and allow them to grow to maturity.
The modern practice of flailing hedges with mechanical cutters means saplings often get damaged.
Mr Bradshaw said: "The tagging is a practical way for farmers and landowners to show their concern for the English countryside."
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