Farm Life - Devon hedge laying

Farm Life - Devon hedge laying

by Roger Hill

Devon has more hedges than any other part of the country. Usually the hedge consists of an earth bank with trees or scrubs growing on it and is renowned as a species rich habitat (photo opposite). Seventy-five per cent are more than 600 hundred years old, having been created between 1150 and 1350 AD.

The reason for their longevity is that of good maintenance. Inevitably gaps appear due to weather erosion or livestock damage and that’s when the traditional hedge laying comes into play. It is a time consuming job because most of the work is done by hand.

My dad taught me ‘hedging’ as he called it and we spent much of the winter engrossed in the skill. He showed me the correct method, including which stem was most suitable to lay, how much of an incision to make and to always lay uphill. The latter allowed the sap to rise in the spring and promote new growth. It was hard work but very satisfying.

I was concerned that the craft was dying, but thankfully today there is renewed interest. It is imperative that we retain such rural skills and more importantly pass the knowledge on to future generations.

‘Til next time, Roger #TuppertheTractor (website: quoit-at-cross.co.uk)

Many of Devon’s hedges date back centuries