Wednesday 19 January 2011

Stake out.

Being the sad trainspotter I am, I took a camera on the school run this morning to take the above picture of a hedge I'd spotted last week. The reason for my excitement lies in the fact that somebody had done a spot of hedge laying in an attempt to thicken up what is a rather sparse hedge. Hedge laying is not something you often see in my area and examples of this wonderful craft are rather rare.Given a chance I think I'd like to make an attempt myself but I think spending some time with a professional would be advisable as it is much more difficult than it may seen.

12 comments:

James Higham said...

A hedge is not a train, Thud.

lilith said...

Fabulous hedge. My ex has a neglected one of those on one side of his property. Full of huge trees growing sideways (and upwards) :-)

cheshire wife said...

Hedge laying is a dying art but there are still individuals around that can do it. We had someone lined up do lay one of our boundary hedges until he ended up in hospital. So husband has had to settle for giving the hedge a good prune.

Affer said...

I wonder if the art is dying because there are fewer hedges, or that there are less hedges because fewer people know how to lay them? I guess we can consider building Devon Hedges, dry stone walling and thatching in the same light...but still, I bet there are loads of Poles who have the know-how!

monkey said...

digging holes and planting holly is hard enough but im game, lets lays some hedges.

Vinogirl said...

Can I expect to see a lot of pleachers, and evidence of snedding, in April then?

Brian said...

Has your Grace considered treating yourself to a day or two's training with Mr Parker from Bolton? Alternatively, the hedge-owner may tell you whodunnit (though good hedgers such as that are best kept secret otherwise they're too busy for your hedge). Have you acquired that hedger's mitt yet?

Thud said...

V.G. and Brian....hedging as good as it looks is way down on my list...but do feel free to join in.

Brian said...

Just enlarged the photo and it's the by the Wirral Conservation Volunteers. Good for them, must be a local version of the BTCC.

haddock said...

go for it, it will be a chance to show off your liggers.

Weekend Yachtsman said...

Beautiful just!

I am sure it's harder than it looks; how nice to see a traditional craft still being followed.

phlegmfatale said...

That hedge is quite lovely, actually.