Hedgelaying at Abbey Farm
Hedgelaying at Abbey Farm
Hedgelaying at Abbey Farm near Enstone - December 2008
Twelve young people learnt the rural craft of hedgelaying at Abbey Farm near Enstone. Working with the Wychwood Project Hedgelaying group and rural crafts trainer Clive Leeke they tackled an old hedge that had not been laid for many years.
60 metres of hedge to lay
The team on day 1
Some of the group had never encountered bill hooks, loppers and bow saws before but some of them who belong to local young farmer’s groups had some experience of handling these types of tools. Over the course of the two days they all became more proficient than they were at the beginning and said that they are keen to try their hand at hedgelaying again in the future.
The 60 metres of hedge is now transformed from a hedge that was all gappy at the bottom and shaped at the top by mechanical cutting to a neatly laid hedge that will regrow from the base to provide dense cover and food sources for small animals, birds and invertebrates.
Jane Bowley and
Wychwood v volunteers
Day 2
The hazel stakes and binders for the hedgelaying were supplied from Leafield community wood from their first coppicing session of their hazel trees that were planted years ago specifically to provide these materials for the local area.
Julienne Jefferies of Abbey Farm said that “It is great to see young people learning these traditional skills that are so rarely seen in our countryside now. I will watch the result of the hedge with great interest”.
How to join with the Wychwood v project
For more information about how to join with the Wychwood v project or the Wychwood Project Hedgelaying group please contact Jane Bowley on 01993 – 814131 or email wychwood.v@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
