hrdl:hurdles

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hrdl:hurdles [2026/03/11 22:32] – [Related topics] Katja Durranihrdl: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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-## 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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-## 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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-## 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) - [Coppice Products](https://www.coppice-products.co.uk/) - listing of 200 hurdle-makers around the UK (use the search facility)
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 - [Heritage Crafts Association](https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/hurdle-making/) - overview of the history and techniques of hurdle making - [Heritage Crafts Association](https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/hurdle-making/) - overview of the history and techniques of hurdle making
  
-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[hedg:Hedges]] - [[hedg:Hedges]]
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • hrdl/hurdles.1773268360.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/11 22:32
  • by Katja Durrani