World Champion Hedgelaying

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Had the privilege of working with Terry Coombe today - 2007 and 2008 World / National Hedgelaying champion. Nothing better than watching a master at work! Learnt a lot!

 

Given the crap that they had to work with, I was well chuffed. Nearly all tall hazel that had never been cut before; lots of vine and creeper to tangle it all up at the top...

 

And it didn't rain!

[Will Hinchliffe]

Cool:thumbup: I went to see the nationals in 2007 at King alfreds tower. I go back to look at the hedge that all the competitors layed sometimes. My girlfriend found it very boring:001_huh:

[RobArb]

i don't mean to sound thick or ignorant but what are they doin? yes i know its hedgelaying but what IS hedgelaying, the why's and what for's etc?

[cousin jack]

i don't mean to sound thick or ignorant but what are they doin? yes i know its hedgelaying but what IS hedgelaying, the why's and what for's etc?

 

Hedgelaying is basically to make a barrier or fence from the natural sources that are available to you. Most woods will lay, some are better than others, hawthorn the best. However, by laying a hedge, if done properly, you will thicken it, encourage regeneration and preserve the life of the hedge. There are also many different styles of hedgelaying, usually biased towards a particular area and towards the livestock that they had to enclose, eg the midlands was a cattle rearing area that needed strong fencing that was bound along the top using hazel binders. Most of us now use chainsaws and machined stakes, but a true craftsman used only hand tools and cut every thing he used from the hedge or local woodlands. I have seen hedges layed by such people, and you could'nt have squeezed a dead cat though them.