This dataset contains plant community data from a hedgerow experiment investigating the effects of cutting regimes on plant species richness. There were four sites, one in Buckinghamshire, two in Oxfordshire and one in Devon. Data were collected in 2016, using 1m x 10m quadrats on each side of the hedgerow at two positions. One quadrat was situated beneath the woody vegetation of the hedge (inner) and one adjacent to the inner quadrat (outer) to sample plant communities growing beside the hedge. Percentage vegetation cover was surveyed up to a height of 80cm. The hedgerow experiment was one of three long running hedgerow experiments focusing on management to maintain and restore the hedgerow resource under agri-environment schemes. These long running experiments were funded by Defra and managed by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/cfeceb7e-b6b5-4f40-a1bc-c25f38deeb9f