We were tried, tested, and #rained on (a lot)...

But weeks of hard work came to fruition today with the end of the #urban #hedgelaying project - a lovely feature, fence, and #wildlifecorridor , that'll extend the life of the individual trees by several times! 🌲

1/2 🧵

“Hedge-banks and ditches are russet with the browns and yellows of the dead bracken fronds. The distant trees show mistily in the winter air”
#HedgeLaying
Writer: EL GrantWatson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

Hedgelaying is an amazing way to create a biodiverse habitat that acts as a handy boundary along fields, gardens and roads. This ancient practice involves weaving and pruning branches, and is still practiced across the UK and much of the world. #NationalHedgerowWeek

Over 100 Hedgelayers across the UK took part in the National Hedgelaying Championships this weekend at Stamford Hall, Leicestershire. Classes were spilt into 'regional styles' with the winner of each battling it out to be Supreme Hedgelayer 2023! Well done to all involved! NHLS

Today's #fingerpostfriday post is on footpath 47 over #NewHill , where the #CoulsdonCommon volunteers were finishing off some #hedgelaying . The path was due to be developed in the 1930s as part of the Fairdean Heights Estate, but was saved by the creation of the #greenbelt

Finished laying my last hedge of the season today - just staking and binding left to do
#hedgelaying

Our latest hedgelaying looking like one of them fancy cranberry-topped pork pies

One of the Tb reactors has been taken this morning, she has to be shot on farm as she was within a month of calving.
It an awful thing to happen to any farm, Tb is merciless.

The three of us spent the rest of the morning in hedgelaying therapy, ligging some ancient stocks💚

Hedgelaying gave us the perfect opportunity to look for signs of two stem-mining flies: Phytobia carbonaria (in Hawthorn) and P. cerasiferae (in Blackthorn). P. cerasiferae was thought to be extinct in the UK but turns out to widespread - this is the first vice-county record! 1/2

The best part of the hedgelaying season is when you see the green return... heartening because you know you have -
A) Done some practical environmental good
B) Not killed the bugger.

Still doing binders for Hedgelaying.

After laying miles of hedgerows in a previous career, I always stop&admire the time and effort put into this vital traditional skill. There are half a million miles of hedgerows and more than 30 different styles of hedgelaying across the UK. Hampshire #Hedgelaying #naturalcapital

Fancy learning a new skill and getting some fresh air? We are running practical hedgelaying workshops at the Food Museum in February, led by hedgelaying expert Nigel Adams. For more info and to book, head to: foodmuseum.org.uk/events/practic…

Donkeys at our Sidmouth sanctuary are benefiting from centuries-old hedgelaying methods at the site. 🍃

The traditional hedgerows provide natural foraging enrichment for the herd, while also acting as a refuge for our native wildlife ➡️ bray.news/3RX8Crn

Julia Meen of Oxford Archaeology has been busy collecting samples from traditionally laid hedges to help distinguish the archaeobotanical signatures of ‘wild’ woodland and ‘tamed’ hedgerows! #WildWednesdays #hedgelaying Photog: Nigel Adams lays (L) & Chris Clark samples (R)

Today, I have mostly been laying hedges #hedgelaying

We have a few places remaining on our hedgelaying workshops, including the one on 5-6 October. The cost is £25 per person which covers the full two days. The trainer is a professional hedgelayer and trainer and the course is entirely hands-on.

Hedgelaying around one of the Estate’s holiday cottages - Tree House Barn. Will improve the structure of the hedge but also enhance biodiversity. Thanks Karl. #Hedgelaying #Shropshire

Very productive day at Railway Fields.. #tree planting, tree #felling , #hedgelaying , #glade clearing, #litter picking and #deadhedging . Pheww.. #rest #time #volunteers ! #urban #nature #N4 #Haringey cs

#Edenvalley #hedgelaying