One of the practical ways in which Cornish hedges most benefit the public is their vital role in run-off prevention. In Cornwall's climate the tilled fields are at times subjected to forces of wind and rain similar in effect to a high-pressure hose. The steep, well-drained land with an often thin covering of stony soil makes excellent grazing for traditional livestock, but once ploughed is extremely susceptible to erosion. Cornish hedges protect the soil from disappearing downhill when it rains. Sadly, if a farmer does remove crucial hedges, it is the public at large who has to cope with mud or floods on the roads or in through their back-door. In Cornwall villages are usually in sheltered valleys built astride the many streams that drain the hills. Cornish hedges form solid bulwarks to check the muddy flow, and the removal of even a few can spell disaster for the people in the valley below.
Altogether Cornwall's hedges provide the natural beauty that is so necessary for an increasingly urban population, seeking more recreation in the countryside. At the same time they protect the wildlife from trampling by the public's feet. Within the villages and towns old Cornish hedges survive from before the houses arrived, others surround gardens and are still being newly built today. They screen and soften the buildings, and bring a refreshing breath of the countryside into the urban scene. Most importantly they delight and educate the generations of children whose eyes are on a level with the interesting wildlife of the hedgebank.