Hedge laying is a traditional method of hedge management and has been practised for hundreds of years. It involves cutting nearly all the way through the base of the stems and laying them over at an angle of about 35 degrees.

The cut stems, called pleachers, are tucked tightly together and staked vertically and bound horizontally for strength to produce a strong hedge. The hedge layer uses a fearsome array of axes and billhooks and normally stakes and binds the hedge with hazel.

Martyn bends his pleachers

Driving in hazel stakes

Stumps are left as clean and tidy as possible since this is where regrowth is most desired and eventually a new hedge will grow from the already established root system.

In the meantime, the laid pleachers act as a living barrier as well as protecting the regrowth from browsing stock.

Where the cycle of laying and trimming is repeated, hedges can thrive for hundreds of years.

Hedge-laying Courses

During the winter months there are weekend Hedgelaying Courses.

These are run by Ray Sykes and/or Senior Warden Martyn Aspinall, who have many years' experience in teaching this craft. For details please see the Events page. These courses are often oversubscribed so booking is essential..

Heidi and her billhook

Ray Sykes' expertise on display outside
the Birdwatching Centre at Egleton

The hedging gang

In the Autumn of 2006 a 'living fence' was constructed at the end of the Lyndon car-park. In addition to the hurdle-type fence, live coppiced willow was incorporated and this will eventually grow producing a 'living fence' which we can trim and style over the years.

Paul Stammers finishes off a section of the fence

Volunteers Ray and Lorna working on the new fence