Thickets

A thicket is a dense stand of shrubs and small trees that forms an impenetrable barrier, often with interwoven branches and thorns. Thickets arise in response to disturbance, natural succession, or climate conditions and can occur in woodland margins, riverbanks, or open country. They differ from forests in height and canopy density.

A typical thicket is multi-layered: a ground cover or herb layer, a dense shrub layer, and sometimes a small-tree layer. Species composition varies by region and disturbance history but commonly includes thorny and evergreen shrubs such as hawthorn, blackberry, blackthorn, sumac, or privet, along with regrowth from rootstocks. Thickets may be temporary or persistent, and regrowth can occur rapidly after cutting.

Ecologically, thickets provide shelter, nesting sites, and foraging habitat for birds, small mammals, and invertebrates. They can stabilize soil on slopes and riverbanks, reduce wind or snow drift, and act as corridors linking fragmented habitats. However, thick vegetation can also impede the regeneration of other plants and can harbor pests or invasive species when non-native shrubs dominate.

Humans manage and use thickets in various ways. In agriculture and forestry, they can be unwanted barriers to access or livestock movement, but in hedgerow or windbreak landscapes they can provide benefits. Management options include mechanical removal, repeated cutting, prescribed burning, or chemical control, often followed by re-vegetation to restore desired plant communities. Conservation decisions balance wildlife value with land-use goals and consider local regulations.