Hedgelaying
We recently had a local hedgelayer in to sort out some of our boundary hedges. In the past, Charlotte and Graham have done this, but since Charlotte’s part-time return to work after maternity leave she doesn’t have time, and Graham is tied up on other work.
Not only do hedges provide shelter for livestock but also wildlife, but adds to the scenery.
Old, overgrown and leggy hedges that haven’t been cut for a few years have effectively just grown into a line of trees. The art of hedgelaying is to thicken and stock proof your boundaries. It’s done between October and March when the trees are dormant.
The stems are cut and bent over at an angle. Hoops or string or wire are used to hold the hedge in place – this depends on the hedgelayer and the county. Our hedgelayer has used hoops. A tree is left to grow every 10metres or so, which not only maintains some tree life but it also looks lovely. The idea is that over the following Autumns you trim new growth and you should end up with a thick and healthy hedge.
It’s been fascinating to see the transformation from the office window – what was an unruly overgrown hedge is now a neat low boundary. And we can now see the Dorset Poll sheep in the field next door.
You can find out more at the National Hedgelaying Society.
