Hi Garden and welcome to GoY. If you put a hawthorn through the shredder whilst it is in berry and then use this as a mulch then yes there is a fair chance you will get seedlings sprouting but not if there are no berries or you don't shred the berried stems then not likely.

Agreed, and if it is anything like our garden, the birds will give you lots of seedlings anyway.

Our big mature Hawthorn grows very few seedlings. Hazels are by far the worst, aided by squirrels.

Thanks for this - yes it fits with what I already know about Hawthorn. Very speedy replies :)