hrdl:hurdles

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hrdl:hurdles [2025/12/05 10:15] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1hrdl:hurdles [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Hurdles+This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]] and [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Hurdles ======
  
  
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 > "Bull strong, horse high, and pig tight, and the goats will still get through." - Roy Underhill > "Bull strong, horse high, and pig tight, and the goats will still get through." - Roy Underhill
  
- +===== What are hurdles? =====
- +
-## What are hurdles?+
  
 Hurdles are wooden fence panels. There are two types - wattle hurdles and gate hurdles. Wattle hurdles have a longer history than gate hurdles, and are made from woven rods of coppiced hazel or willow; gate hurdles are made from split wood of various types - often sweet chestnut or oak. Hurdles are wooden fence panels. There are two types - wattle hurdles and gate hurdles. Wattle hurdles have a longer history than gate hurdles, and are made from woven rods of coppiced hazel or willow; gate hurdles are made from split wood of various types - often sweet chestnut or oak.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Starting off a wattle hurdle on a mould board.+_Starting off a wattle hurdle on a mould board._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Continuous weave fencing is constructed in the same way as hurdles, but as it is woven in situ it forms a more permanent barrier, and can also follow the contours and slope.+_Continuous weave fencing is constructed in the same way as hurdles, but as it is woven in situ it forms a more permanent barrier, and can also follow the contours and slope._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-Hurdles have traditionally had two main uses for the [sheep](/topics_sheep.html) farmer. Firstly, they were used to make lambing pens. Four hurdles make a quick, easy pen to keep a ewe and her lambs out of the worst of the weather, and to keep them close together so that they can bond properly. Secondly, they were used to make larger pens to contain sheep at night on arable land. Their dung fertilised the arable fields, and they were released back to the downs to graze the next day. Sheep hurdles were often made with a 'twilling hole' in the middle so that the shepherd could carry four or five hurdles over his shoulder with his [crook](/topics_sticks.html) through the hole.+Hurdles have traditionally had two main uses for the [[shep:sheep]] farmer. Firstly, they were used to make lambing pens. Four hurdles make a quick, easy pen to keep a ewe and her lambs out of the worst of the weather, and to keep them close together so that they can bond properly. Secondly, they were used to make larger pens to contain sheep at night on arable land. Their dung fertilised the arable fields, and they were released back to the downs to graze the next day. Sheep hurdles were often made with a 'twilling hole' in the middle so that the shepherd could carry four or five hurdles over his shoulder with his [crook](stic:sticks) through the hole.
  
 The old agricultural uses have now gone, and farmers don't tend to buy or make them these days, but use metal hurdles instead. Traditional hurdles are still used by some [smallholders](/smho/smallholding), but mostly they're used in gardens as windbreaks or [fencing](/fenc/fences), as people tend to like their rustic appearance. The old agricultural uses have now gone, and farmers don't tend to buy or make them these days, but use metal hurdles instead. Traditional hurdles are still used by some [smallholders](/smho/smallholding), but mostly they're used in gardens as windbreaks or [fencing](/fenc/fences), as people tend to like their rustic appearance.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A line of coppiced willows before a 'haircut'...+_A line of coppiced willows before a 'haircut'..._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of hurdles?+===== What are the benefits of hurdles? =====
  
 Hurdles offer an alternative to the classic larch-lap fence panels found in garden centres, which aren't wind-permeable, and so the wind can blow them down, and eddy over the top and damage plants behind them. Hurdles are wind-permeable - the wind filters through the gaps with no eddies created, making them very effective wind breaks. Hurdles offer an alternative to the classic larch-lap fence panels found in garden centres, which aren't wind-permeable, and so the wind can blow them down, and eddy over the top and damage plants behind them. Hurdles are wind-permeable - the wind filters through the gaps with no eddies created, making them very effective wind breaks.
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![...and after.](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/hurdles4.jpg)+![_...and after._](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/hurdles4.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-...and after.+_...and after._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![Weaving cleft hazel.](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/hurdles5-e1504710723271.jpg)+![_Weaving cleft hazel._](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/hurdles5-e1504710723271.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-Weaving cleft hazel.+_Weaving cleft hazel._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 If you're making your own hurdles, your biggest problem is likely to be sourcing the raw materials - often a stumbling block with old crafts. Most coppice in the UK is in a band along the south of England, so it will be much easier to get coppiced rods there. You could contact your local [Wildlife Trust](http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/) or other conservation organisation to see if they do any coppicing for habitat management. You can also buy hazel or willow products from the [Coppice Products](http://www.coppice-products.co.uk/) website. If you have land, you could establish your own coppice. Generally, coppicing will only spread if it's economically sustainable - which is difficult, as it means lots of work for not a great deal of return. However, there is more demand for coppice products these days than there are coppices to provide them, so the opportunity is there if you're committed to woodland work as a way of life. If you're making your own hurdles, your biggest problem is likely to be sourcing the raw materials - often a stumbling block with old crafts. Most coppice in the UK is in a band along the south of England, so it will be much easier to get coppiced rods there. You could contact your local [Wildlife Trust](http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/) or other conservation organisation to see if they do any coppicing for habitat management. You can also buy hazel or willow products from the [Coppice Products](http://www.coppice-products.co.uk/) website. If you have land, you could establish your own coppice. Generally, coppicing will only spread if it's economically sustainable - which is difficult, as it means lots of work for not a great deal of return. However, there is more demand for coppice products these days than there are coppices to provide them, so the opportunity is there if you're committed to woodland work as a way of life.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Weaving a willow hurdle+_Weaving a willow hurdle_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-If you decide that you want to make your own hurdles the way to start is to attend a [course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/directory/categories/hurdles-courses). It's physically hard work, so it's great exercise (the part that most course participants find hardest is putting the 'twist' in, which is a tricky technique and physically demanding). There are three key things to learn:+If you decide that you want to make your own hurdles the way to start is to attend a course. It's physically hard work, so it's great exercise (the part that most course participants find hardest is putting the 'twist' in, which is a tricky technique and physically demanding). There are three key things to learn:
  
 1. how to split hazel rods - commonly done with a hook-nosed billhook. 1. how to split hazel rods - commonly done with a hook-nosed billhook.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A traditional gate hurdle – used as a fence panel, not hung as an opening gate.+_A traditional gate hurdle – used as a fence panel, not hung as an opening gate._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![A cleft hazel hurdle.](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/hurdles6-e1504710985404.jpg)+![_A cleft hazel hurdle._](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/hurdles6-e1504710985404.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-A cleft hazel hurdle.+_A cleft hazel hurdle._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-How to make a hurdle with hazel and handtools.+_How to make a hurdle with hazel and handtools._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). 
 + 
 +It is also in the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]] (Forum: [Gardening, smallholding & farming](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening)). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Coppice Products](https://www.coppice-products.co.uk/) - listing of 200 hurdle-makers around the UK (use the search facility) 
 +- [The Low Carbon Garden: Making Wattle Hurdles and Dead Hedges](https://allanshepherd.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/the-low-carbon-garden-making-wattle-hurdles-and-dead-hedges/) 
 +- [Forestry Commission](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/neglected-hazel-coppice.pdf) - restoration of neglected hazel coppice 
 +- [How to make a woven willow hurdle/screen](https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/how-to-make-a-woven-willow-hurdle-screen.27996/)  
 +- [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/split-rail-fences-portable-fences-zmaz83mjzraw/) - hurdles: on building split-rail and portable fences 
 +- [Heritage Crafts Association](https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/hurdle-making/) - overview of the history and techniques of hurdle making 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[hedg:Hedges]] 
 +- [[fenc:Fences]] 
 +- [[grwo:Green woodworking]] 
 +- [[gate:Gates|Gates & stiles]] 
 +- [[bask:Basketmaking]] 
 +- [[wsew:Willow sewage treatment]] 
 +- [[craf:Craft| Craft production]] 
 +- [[watd:Wattle and daub]] 
 +- [[drys:Dry stone walling]] 
 +- [[livs:livestock|Keeping livestock]] 
 +- [[shep:Sheep]] 
 +- [[livw:Living willow structures]] 
 + 
  
  
  
-## Specialist(s)+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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