There are few hedgerows in my part of the world which haven't had the basket effect applied at some point. When a hedge becomes very old and worn out a farmer will call somebody like Bob Bakewell to re-lay it. The wood is split within an inch of its life and forced over at 45 degrees and held in place with a weave normally applied to basket edging. It is not about aesthetics of course... A laid hedge is impenetrable and strong, to keep livestock in. The fact that small animals and birds inhabit these small thickets is a happy by-product.
A laid hedge in this patch of middle England is made most often from from blackthorn, quickthorn and ash. The raw material can be ridiculously hard to work with. The sedate village of Medbourne has been given a bit of drama at its limits with this steep and savage piece of cutting and bending (above and below). What was once a line of trees, is now a surprising hedge.
Bob Bakewell works 'by the chain'. A chain is the length of a cricket pitch and a chain is a day's work. Hedge laying is also called hedge cutting and hedge cutting competitions do happen amongst enthusiasts (and all hedge cutters are). The local hunt puts money towards the competitions but does not fund the regular trimming of hedges any more, though it once did.
People have hedges laid at the back of their houses but only when
their garden is next to a field; they are never seen by the front door. The basketry quickly grows over and hazel wattling is neater.
Even wattling though is slightly frowned upon in a village like mine where everyone reads the Daily Mail except the vicar, and Twentieth Century Suburban is clung to in the face of Latter Day Rustic.
What an extraordinary hedge, not something I've particularly noticed in Gloucestershire. I can't believe those trees survive all that hacking and weaving. They are rather beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOddly the first time I saw this was in Gloucestershire, the work of your neighbour 'HRH'.
DeleteWildgardener - I pressed the delete button by mistake. Could you possibly send your comment again? Apologies, thanks.
I learnt to lay hedges when I worked for the BTCV, in fact I still have my bowsaw and billhook. Far too few laid hedges to be seen these days mores the pity.
ReplyDeleteVisit Rutland!
DeleteThat hedge looks great - a real work of art. I've tried hedgelaying and it's way more difficlut than it looks.
DeleteWhat is it that your Twentieth Century Suburban neighbours prefer?
Privet. Leylandii, some laurel. The village councillor said that willow wattling was not a good look because it falls apart too quickly...
DeleteThis is quite lovely - we've been experimenting with dead hedges and would love to do something a little more decorative like this one.
ReplyDeleteHi - if you can do some weaving over the top then it pulls the whole thing together. See also Jan 2 post 'don't fence me in' for a dead hedge or two (if that is what they are).
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