Hedgelaying pics

[Guest Gimlet]

The hedge in the first two pics above was finished at the end of March last year.

Here is the regrowth on the same hedge by the middle of May the same year. 

 

 

 

[Stere]

Looks good.

 

Fields maple trees & hegdes are rare/non existant round here but noticed they often sell it as part of hegding tree packs.

[Guest Gimlet]

Field maple is one of my favourite hedging species. Number two hedgerow star after Hawthorn.

A lot of people find it troublesome and prone to breaking. I never have any problems with it. It does grow very fast round here on our chalk soils. Whether that makes any difference I don't know. Those hedges pictured were only planted in 2005 but some of the field maple was seven inches thick. If anything I think big field maple produces a better hinge than small stuff. It's just the crown that can be get a bit tangled.

 

My favourite hedge mix down here on our soils is:

65% Hawthorn 

10% Field Maple

25% a mixture of Guelder Rose, Wayfaring Tree, European Spindle, Hazel, Crab Apple and Bird Cherry.

 

Not a fan of blackthorn because it's too invasive and produces too much deadwood. Don't like common Dogwood either. Makes a pretty good hedge and regrows well but very invasive. And why people have starting putting Osier Dogwood in hedge mixes I've no idea. It's utterly useless as a hedge plant and spreads like a disease.

 

 

 

 

[Dorset Hedgelayer]

Looking down a bit of Dorset, low and tight to the bank top

[Dorset Hedgelayer]

Another bit of Dorset on a stunning morning, we do have a great office all of us

[nepia]

Brilliant and what a lot of work has gone into it; look at all that brush!

[Guest Gimlet]

Laying a hedge is like digging a hole with a digger. You can't believe all that waste came out of that space. 

Should have seen the firewood I got off this job. 740 metres with mature trees, mostly maples, every 10-15 yards, all of which all had to be cut back ruthlessly to maintain access for farm machinery. Took me two days solid to trailer the wood home. 

 

Edited July 19, 2019 by Gimlet

[lux]

Nice to see tidy work and traditional craft being continued. Is the weave / pattern local to the area. My limited knowledge of hedge laying recalls the weaves differ around the country ??
Thumbs up from me.

[Dorset Hedgelayer]

Couple more from a busy 18/19 season

[Dorset Hedgelayer]

Today's job, nice road side hedge, opened up the garden, sorted out a tired and gappy hedge, will rejuvenate and great environment for nature. Tomorrow carry on down the road in to a not so nice section.