Hedging advice pls: native, non-poisonous, evergreen?

[kerilli]

A friend asked me to post this:
"as part of our planning, we have to plant a hedge round the arena, this has to be a native species, and we need it to be non poisonous to the horses, and preferably evergreen so I do not end up with a ton of leaves in the arena?"

Is there such a plant? I thought all native evergreens were poisonous (Yew, Privet), can't think of anything myself.
All suggestions very welcome, thankyou.

 

[MrsMozart]

Not in the slightest bit green fingered lol, but maybe this lot could help?

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/design/msg1012315426369.html

 

[Maesfen]

Holly, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, beech, dogrose etc. I know these aren't strictly evergreen but they are good thick cover. This place has a list http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/subcat_Hedging-Plants_15_index.php

But bare in mind the planting season for hedging is really over until late autumn. If you plant now, you have to be prepared to water and check very regularly and also be prepared for some plants to die. It's a lot easier to plant from November to March as it gives the plants time to establish themselves before the dry weather (we can live in hope!) also the bigger plants you can afford, the quicker it will look established and it's false economy to plant too sparingly, you'll only end up with gaps. Sorry, OH plants a lot of hedges!

 

[Dubsie]

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Hedging-Plants-Stock-Friendly

 

[kerilli]

thanks everyone, much appreciated.

 

[_daisy_]

i would recommend hawthorn or blackthorn - and to sway the decision, get blackthorn, get sloes and make plenty of sloe gin