Hedgelaying by Huw Griffiths. Covering Warwickshire and beyond.
I'm a Warwickshire based hedgelayer undertaking commercial and domestic work, from field boundaries to private gardens, using the Midlands style, finished with stakes and woven binders through the top.
Hedgelaying is a traditional method of hedgerow management, a rural craft that rejuvenates existing hedgerows that have grown upwards and outwards and become hollow at the base.
The hedgelaying season starts at the beginning of October and finishes at the end of March during which time the hedges lay dormant and the sap is down. Hedgelaying must stop when buds appear and birds start nesting.
Hedgerows are an important habitat of our countryside providing a network of corridors, shelter and food source for our small mammals, birds and insects. A pleached stem, which is bent over, promotes new growth from ground level right along the length of the stem. It is then supported by stakes hammered into the ground and either hazel or willow binders woven through the top to give stability.
Creating and maintaining hedges provides:
Livestock-proof barriers
Habitat for many species of wildlife
Safe corridors for wildlife to move along, connecting woodlands
Rejuvenation of existing hedgerows by encouraging new growth, thus improving their overall structure and strength
Reducing soil erosion
Weather protection for crops, livestock and wildlife
Aesthetically pleasing screens for fields and gardens
