November 2019
Bucks Hill, Chipperfield, Herts 46 yards hazel, some hawthorn and a little holly
The owner wanted to block off the gaps at the bottom of the hedge. Mostly hazel, there were enough stems to produce a dense live hedge using live stakes for a very strong and cost effective result
Although this hedge looks thick and bushy from top to bottom...
...closer inspection shows large gaps which dogs can easily get through
Stripping the hedge back to the base revealed how big some of these gaps were...
...but laying the hedge fills all the gaps - job done.
Nearton End Burial Ground, Swanbourne
Two hedges, of quite separate character, laid in different styles at this peaceful spot which, as well as managing the hedges, revealed the lovely surroundings.
First hedge - 7 yards sparse hawthorn, South of England style
View from front before...
...newly laid...
...and in July 2020
View from right side before...
...just laid...
...June 2020...
... and July 2020
Second hedge - two 20 yard lengths of tall, dense hawthorn meeting in a corner, laid using live stakes
First side before...
...sides cut back and laying has commenced at far end...
...completed...
...July 2020...
Close-up of regrowth at end of hedge, June 2020
Starting off - sides have been stripped back, two live stakes retained and the first stems laid...
...this is how it ended up - with another live stake, extremely solid and 5 ft tall
First side complete, showing how compact the hedge is
A visit from Swanbourne Church of England School pupils
The first of four images showing how dense, tall and solid a live staked hedge can be. The first stake was a double stem so hasn't even sacrificed a laid stem.
The start of the second side - the extra stake on the far left secures the start of the first side which is just visible. Stakes are about 7ft apart, alternating either side.
View down the second side, very dense and solid, work still in progress.
A fourth view showing how thick this hedge is, this time from the outside where there is a ditch and fence
Second side - you can just see the top of the oak tree on the left...
...work in progress. The live stakes are trimmed to height afterwards...
...same view June 2020. The hedge was trimmed in the autumn, so still very tidy...
...July 2020 and now it's growing like mad!
First side from outside, before..
...just started, ditch now revealed...
...just laid, space behind piled high with surplus brush...
...same view, June 2020.
Second side from outside, before...
...work in progress...
...same view June 2020.
End of second side, the awkward kink in the last but one stem gives a better finish to the end...
...same view, June 2020.
General view June 2020, two fire sites visible. When I laid the hedge the space beyond the seat was piled high with surplus brush.
North West Bucks Agricultural Association Hedgelaying Competition, Pury Hill Business Park, Nr Alderton, Towcester
This young maiden hedge was nice to lay if a little slight and won me Intermediate Class for the second time so I can now enter the Championship Class.
I wasn't able to stay for the prize giving as I had two yoga classes to teach later on that day and only found out I had won seven months later on 8th June 2020!
See here for the first time I won the Intermediate Class in 2005.
My section before...
...same view, complete
View from the start of my section ...
...view from the end of my section
Close up of the lovely ornamental pear tree in front of my section
Butlers Cross. 46 yards predominantly hazel hedge. The owner wanted to more clearly define a boundary by having their hedge laid.
View from start of hedge before...
...view from start of hedge, work underway
Work in progress. Both chainsaws sit atop piles of surplus wood from the hedge.
The hazel is just tall enough to cover the large gaps between the stools.
View looking up the hedge. One or preferably two live stakes are left at the back of each stool to lay into...
......view looking down the hedge. As much of the next stool as possible will be laid and sandwiched between the two live stakes...
...and this is the result. There was a lot of big timber in this hedge requiring a petrol chainsaw - usually an electric saw is sufficient
View looking from end of hedge before...
View looking from end of hedge afterwards...