Hedge Laying

Hedges have long been a vital landscape feature in Britain and are regarded as a characteristic feature – both natural and man-made. In the West Country in particular, hedges (in all of their forms) can be traced back to very early settlement and the raising of livestock. In the Midlands and Eastern England much of the hedgerow pattern seen today is an outcome of planned ‘enclosure’ and is part of the man-made landscape that has been a part of English agriculture and estate management since the early 18th century at least. In the North, enclosure period hedges are a feature.

To ‘cut and lay’ a hedge at regular intervals is a management technique to maintain dense and stock-proof hedges (and is attractive to the eye and to nesting and feeding birds) and ensures that it is thick at the base, has no gaps and is indeed ‘stock and person proof’.

It is obvious that if hedges are not cut at all you end up with a row of trees – and if they are trimmed to the same height each year all of the growth will occur near the top, and the bottom will become sparse. The outcome is an ineffective hedge both as a barrier and for nesting birds. So that is why a hedge is laid – if done on a regular cycle a hedge will be effective and ‘last forever’.

Hedge Laying is a key service of The Hedge Man and we undertake work in a variety of styles for all kinds of clients including residential ones – often hedges bordering large gardens or paddocks are of some vintage and will need this type of management from time to time.