Following some wet and cold weather it was fortunately both a dry and mild day for our Hedge Laying course on the reserve. The day was open to regular members of our work parties and was led by Alex and Anna from HMWT. After the all-important safety talk, and having been shown the correct way to use the tools, we sized up the job in hand.

When laying a hedge that has become somewhat overgrown it is rather like having a haircut! A lot of material in terms of height and width needs to be removed first. Using a billhook or small axe, a part of the stem can be trimmed away near the base. The plant will still survive as enough bark and other inner layers remain and the stem or “pleaching” can then be laid at an approximate angle of 45 degrees. Stakes are hammered in along the length of newly cut hedging and binders are woven between the stakes to complete the task.

Hedge laying is one of those old country crafts that predates mechanisation and has been practised for hundreds of years. In the days before barbed wire fences this enabled a field boundary to be stock proof. Whilst this isn't necessary for our purposes it does offer a number of benefits to the local wildlife.

As part of the wider habitat it provides a refuge and in time nesting opportunities once the hedge has become more dense. It will become a source of food and also create a corridor for wildlife to travel through the landscape. With long term management it will also prolong the life of the hedge.

Bob Sherren