Hedgelaying

Once everyone is kitted up we move o to nd the hedge we’re to work on. e hedge is like any other you’ll see in a Devon lane or eld but characterised, as many are these days by its ‘mushroom top’. is shape arises from the bulbous heads of saplings that have been regularly ailed by a hedgecutting machine (similar to a pollarded tree). is is the modern way that landowners will use to keep hedges in trim but it leads to dense foliage at the ailing height with a shortage of material below. is situation isn’t ideal as a hedge’s primary purpose is to keep livestock in and

provide shelter. A ailed “ hedge will, after time, ful l neither of these jobs. Our task today is to restore the 60 metres of hedge to ful l its original function.

A Devon-style hedge is unusual (but not unique) as it is laid on a bank, the laid small trees and shrubs and the bank together forming the barrier. e hedge we’re working on has a stone faced bank and a single ‘comb’ of foliage along its top. Wider hedges can have a double ‘comb’ of foliage on either side with an in lling of soil in the middle. e tall saplings atop re ect the fact that the hedge hasn’t been ailed for 2 to 3 seasons. e rst step of the process is to strip out all the really light growth, any dead wood, saplings growing sideways and debris in the hedge. What’s left is a good stock of

what are termed ‘steepers’ between 15 to 100mm in diameter that will be laid to form the living base of the hedge. is appears a daunting task as we survey the mass of tangled growth. Of course nobody wants to make a mistake so the rule is, if in doubt leave it standing and a decision can be made later if there’s too many steepers. We work in pairs of students with a volunteer overseeing and at rst progress is slow and the task at hand looks like a tall order. However, after a couple of hours we’re starting to arrive at the point when we can cut the steepers. Whilst we are clearing the A hedge’s primary purpose is to keep livestock in and provide shelter. A ailed hedge will, after hedge one of the volunteers clears any oversized stems with a pleasingly quiet electric chainsaw which time, ful l neither of these jobs. makes short work of a section of the hedge which is largely populated with sycamore growth too sturdy to steep. is section of hedge will need to be replanted with hedging varieties such as hawthorn, blackthorn, beech, hornbeam, hazel and holly. Our section of hedge has an estblished holly tree as well as an ash; these would usually be removed but as the holly is healthy and the ash a rare survivor of ash die back disease on this occasion they are spared. At this point there’s a healthy stack of debris and before we start laying our steepers we go through the cut saplings to identify suitably forked lengths or crooks that will be used as staples to x down the laid steepers. is is a skill in itself and

Making a start cutting the steepers

...and after

an introduction into the correct use of the bill hook.

Once we have amassed a plentiful supply of crooks we make a start on cutting the steepers. e idea behind laying (or steeping) is to provide a solid base of horizontal stems, which are cut through 75% at ground level and laid down. As the stems remain attached and alive they form a base from which new growth will grow upward to form the next generation of steepers. As the hedge is living and tree sap always rises the hedge must always be laid uphill.

After a demonstration of cutting technique we set cutting the steepers for our section. It’s not an easy task and clearly where the skill lies. More than once I cut clean through or snap the fragile stem whilst bending it over - it’s a good job we have allowed plenty of stems. Each stem is laid along then the comb with its bushy head entwined under the heel of the next steeper. As each section is laid the steepers are xed in place with the crooks we cut earlier. We have a nal clear up, trimming any stray foliage and brushing up the waste with bushy sticks then stand back to survey the day’s work. It’s an impressive, tidy site and a great improvement on where we started. What might traditionally follow would be a bon re to clear the waste and a agon of Devon cyder but a cup of tea and a freshly baked rock cake from the farmer’s wife was equally welcome! 

Did You Know?

The DSRT was founded in 1980, largely to try and preserve traditional countryside skills while there were still enough active practitioners to be able to pass on their knowledge. A list of endangered crafts and skills is published by the Heritage Crafts Association (heritagecrafts.org.uk). Their Red List features skills such as: cricket ball making, bell founding, withy pot making and clock and watch making, to name a very few. The UK as a whole lost approximately 160,000 miles of its hedges after 1945. Most hedges are now protected by the 1997 Hedgerow Regulations. The UK government’s Climate Change Committee has recommended a 40% increase in the extent of hedges, in order to mitigate some of the effects of the climate crisis. Natural England meanwhile recommends a 60% increase (in England) to protect biodiversity. Roughly two-thirds of Devon’s hedges/hedgerows are Roughly two-thirds of Devon’s hedges/hedgerows are medieval in origin, or older. The county lost fewer hedges during the post-war years than in many other places and roughly 33,000 miles survive, more than in any other co nt , and totallin a o t one fi th o n land s s ecies rich hedgerows. It should be noted, however, that many of the county’s hedges are not in good condition (only about 30% by some estimates). Further information can be found at: devonhedges.org The DSRT runs courses on the following skills: Cleft Gate Hurdles • Wattle Hurdles • Cob Walling Cobblestoning • Coppicing • Stone Work • Turf Hedging • Tool Sharpening. Courses are often oversubscribed but do sign up as a reserve as there are often cancellations. www.drst.org.uk