Previously coppiced hedge

[Bill C]

Organic Guy I was working on the hedge in the other field running North to South.

[sime42]

21 minutes ago, Bill C said:

The Devon hedge can be either turfed or stone walled along the sloping sides below the steepers but it's not seen as much now as it's work intensive. The more often seen hedge is just layed along the upper edges and a digger is used to remove soil from the sides and base, this is then placed on the top of the edge between the steepers. This type of hedge also explains why the Devon digging spade is designed like it is, the spade head is like a Spade on a deck of cards and the handle is about 5 foot long which allows the spade to cut into the soil and it's length allows the soil can be thrown on top of the hedge with ease, it's also easy to cut turf with the Devon spade. The soil removed from the base of the edge also becomes a water drainage ditch and adds height to the hedge. It took 50+years and a hedge laying course to make me understand and fit together all those little bits of information that's been bouncing around inside my head since I was a kid!!!! Never to old to learn!

 

Interesting stuff, thanks.

 

Yes, it goes on to talk about the Devon Shovel in this book. Echoes what you said pretty much. It's my weapon of choice for most kinds of digging/shoveling work, been using one for years. I've got a square ended one as well actually, that's better for some things like moving loose material.

 

 

Sorry for hijacking this thread somewhat!

 

 

[Stere]

 

Spurting whats that?

 

Same as  a  cornish  or irish shovel?

 

I got  a  hollander spade shape for sand

 

 

Germans still made some  proper decent spatens unlike the UK.

 

https://www.baackspaten.de/com/Baack Spaten Katalog 2019.pdf

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by Stere

[Bill C]

A old Devonshire term of Spurtang? is a horse drawn implement to break up hard ground so it might be a local term for using a spade to do the same thing. Only a guess, my mother was a local land girl during the war and she worked the land with Shire horses. Still got part set of Heavy horse harness and horse brass in the attic.

[organic guy]

14 hours ago, Stere said:

 

Spurting whats that?

 

Same as  a  cornish  or irish shovel?

 

I got  a  hollander spade shape for sand

 

 

Germans still made some  proper decent spatens unlike the UK.

 

https://www.baackspaten.de/com/Baack Spaten Katalog 2019.pdf

 

Is it not saying that the spade is suitable for "digging" as the other pictures in the group show different uses for the spade.