A COUNTRY LIVING
by Tracie Beardsley Russell Woodham whilst competing in the Melplash Show Hedgelaying Competition in September, where he won the Cecil A Marsh Challenge Cup. Image: Tim Russ
BEST HEDGES
For wildlife: edible hedges with berries or nuts such as hazel and hawthorn are perfect. Native hedges of blackthorn, hornbeam and el make great natural highways For security: hawthorn or blackthorn will keep intruder at bay.
The skills that make Russell a champion hedge-layer It’s an idyllic winter rural scene. Log fire roaring in his grate. Dogs sprawled at his feet. He sits with a sewing needle... methodically extracting vicious blackthorn spikes from his scratched arms. For Russell Woodham, this is just one of the hazards of being a hedge-layer. As far as this multiple-champion hedger is concerned – unbeaten 11 times in local Melplash Agricultural Society show and three times winner at the National Championships – there is no better occupation. Come early September, this Dorchester-based 54 year-old is “twitching with anticipation”, keen to get back to his winteronly job. A former countryside warden on Lulworth range and parttime grass cutter at weekends, Russell’s work dried up in the winter. He explains: “I was watching River Cottage on TV and a feature about hedge-laying came on. The fact it could only be done in winter sparked my interest.” The man demonstrating turned out to be a tutor at Kingston Maurward College. Russell enrolled in March 1999, leading
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to a mid-30’s career change National Hedgelaying Society. he’s never regretted. His very Russell keeps meticulous records first job was a 261 metre-long of every hedge makeover. Over blackthorn beast. “I think it was a 20 years, he’s regenerated test to see if I was cut out for this 25, 606 metres of hedgerows, occupation!” he the longest “On a cold, wet day measuring a recalls. The following with a bitter easterly staggering 1038 year, he entered and I’m on my third metres, and in the novice class one winter can rain-soaked coat, at the Melplash expect to layer I wish someone Agricultural around 3000 Society, winning would fix my office’s metres. first in his first leaking roof but I “I’m not sure if competition. you’d call me still wouldn’t swap passionate or Twenty-two years later he’s sadly passionate this job” entered close about what I do, to 50 competitions and been but I love it. On a sunny, winter’s overall champion in many. He day I have the best office in was the first Dorset Hedgelayer Dorset. On a cold, wet day with to be invited to Highgrove to a bitter easterly and I’m on my meet HRH Prince Charles, Patron third rain-soaked coat, I wish of The National Hedgelaying someone would fix my office’s Society. He runs training days leaking roof but I still wouldn’t and is Committee member of the swap this job.” Always free - subscribe here
