hedg:hedges

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hedg:hedges [2025/12/05 10:15] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1hedg:hedges [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Hedges+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Hedges ======
  
  
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-## What are hedges?+===== What are hedges? =====
  
 Hedges are living boundaries made by planting a row of trees, and later cutting them in a special way and ‘laying’ the stems to create a hedge – a barrier that can last for thousands of years if maintained well. They’re more of a lowland phenomenon – with [dry stone walls](/drys/dry_stone_walling) often being used in higher areas such as the Yorkshire Moors and Dales. Hedges are living boundaries made by planting a row of trees, and later cutting them in a special way and ‘laying’ the stems to create a hedge – a barrier that can last for thousands of years if maintained well. They’re more of a lowland phenomenon – with [dry stone walls](/drys/dry_stone_walling) often being used in higher areas such as the Yorkshire Moors and Dales.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Planting a new hedge.+_Planting a new hedge._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Gorgeous film about hedgegrow conservation in Wales, where there is 88,000km of hedges - enough to encircle the earth twice.+_Gorgeous film about hedgegrow conservation in Wales, where there is 88,000km of hedges - enough to encircle the earth twice._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of hedges?+===== What are the benefits of hedges? =====
  
 These days, it’s much cheaper and easier for a farmer to install a wire fence than to plant and manage a hedge. There are grants to encourage hedge planting and laying, but there are also plenty of benefits – for smallholders really, rather than industrial farms. These days, it’s much cheaper and easier for a farmer to install a wire fence than to plant and manage a hedge. There are grants to encourage hedge planting and laying, but there are also plenty of benefits – for smallholders really, rather than industrial farms.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A recently-laid hedge, Midland style – stems laid diagonally against vertical stakes.+_A recently-laid hedge, Midland style – stems laid diagonally against vertical stakes._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Typical English countryside with hedgerows.+_Typical English countryside with hedgerows._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 You can decide to plant a hedge around your field, your smallholding or your urban garden (brick walls or fences with concrete posts don’t have the benefits mentioned above). If you’re serious, get a good book or attend a course (see resources). Search online for current grants for hedge planting and laying. Meanwhile here’s some basic information for inspiration. You can decide to plant a hedge around your field, your smallholding or your urban garden (brick walls or fences with concrete posts don’t have the benefits mentioned above). If you’re serious, get a good book or attend a course (see resources). Search online for current grants for hedge planting and laying. Meanwhile here’s some basic information for inspiration.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Short film about hedging in Northamptonshire in 1942, made by the Ministry of Agriculture+_Short film about hedging in Northamptonshire in 1942, made by the Ministry of Agriculture_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Slasher and billhook.+_Slasher and billhook._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Stems are cut almost all the way through to lay them.+_Stems are cut almost all the way through to lay them._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Laying a neglected hedge that's been left to grow for 30-40 years. Much more difficult, needs a chainsaw as a well as a billhook.+_Laying a neglected hedge that's been left to grow for 30-40 years. Much more difficult, needs a chainsaw as a well as a billhook._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-A stone-faced Devon hedge-bank. Pic: [Tom Hynes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_Faced_Hedge_Beaford.JPG) [CC BY-S 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)+_A stone-faced Devon hedge-bank. Pic: [Tom Hynes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_Faced_Hedge_Beaford.JPG) [CC BY-S 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
  
 +===== Further resources =====
  
-## Specialist(s)+- [National Hedgelaying Society](https://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/) 
 +- [Hedgelink](https://hedgelink.org.uk/) - organisation set up to conserve the UK's hedgerow heritage 
 +- [Cornish Hedges](https://www.cornishhedges.co.uk/) - huge resource on everything to do with Cornish hedges (which are different due to their stone face, earth-banks with trees and shrubs above) 
 +- [Hedgerow Survey Handbook](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hedgerow-survey-handbook)  
 +- [Hedgerow Conervation](https://www.amull.co.uk/hedgecons.htm) 
 +- [A Load of Old Billhooks](https://www.billhooks.co.uk/) - all about billhooks 
 +- [Illustrated guide to hedgerow network restoration](https://www.farminguk.com/content/knowledge/TIN085.pdf) 
 +- [Naturenet](https://naturenet.net/trees/hedgerow/) - attempt to interpret the hedgerows regulations 
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 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[drys:Dry stone walling]] 
 +- [[hrdl:Hurdles]] 
 +- [[livs:livestock|Keeping livestock]] 
 +- [[ntaw:Nature awareness]] 
 +- [[mdws:meadows|Meadows, grassland and pasture]] 
 +- [[livw:Living willow structures]] 
 +- [[fenc:Fences]] 
 +- [[chsw:chainsaws|Chainsaws]] 
 +- [[gate:Gates|Gates & stiles]] 
 +- [[wodl:woodland management|Tree / woodland management]] 
 +- [[smho:Smallholding]]  
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 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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