February 2024

Weekend hedgelaying training course at the Greensand Trust, Sandy Smith Reserve, Clophill. The Greensand Trust has planted 2.5 kilometres of hedge at this site that is now ready to lay. I laid an initial section in February 2022. All the hedges are mixed hedges of predominantly hawthorn and planted as double staggered rows to give good thick hedges. This was the third hedgelaying course I ran on this site. Two different styles are being used - South of England where stakes and binders and required but most will be crop and pleach using live stakes which saves the cost of the stakes and binders and is much quicker - significant considerations with this much hedge to manage.

Before...
 

...and afterwards with participants justly pleased behind their excellent South of England hedge
 

Hedge laid and tidily staked but yet to be bound

 

Start of hedge complete

 

Work in progress with the far end completed

 

Completed south of England hedge looking the other way

 

This very enthusiastic group also went on to lay this lengthy section using live stakes as well!