Hedgelaying at Wrotham

[@RSLtreecare]

This looks very good.

[@alanyoung7655]

That's just a thing of beauty.... the woven part along the front really looks like it was done by somebody on top of their game

[@lesvenola2380]

Magnificent work mate, I live in Australia but visit the UK often and the hedges , hedge laying and stone walls amaze me.

[@paulmckenzie4291]

I'm a long time away from my country now but still remember my fascination at the sight of laid hedges as we walked the lanes. I completely understood the method and reason at a young age. I'd love to come back and be a part of this ancient craft.

[@paulmatthews570]

Well , we run two day courses! First day coppicing and processing stakes/ binders 2nd day on the hedge!

[@paulmckenzie4291]

When the borders open it'll be too of my list, Paul. I'm in Oz, so it might be a while yet. Cheers!

[@liammcanton]

ive got to hand it to you that is an amazing bit of work well done. its nice to see skills like that alive and well you should be a proud man looking at that work.

[@terryteed1903]

A work of art.

[@Blagger3000]

All cut with a billhook by hand, no chainsaws here. Lovely clean and neat job.

[@spotsterjon74cu]

I wish I could get my bindings as good as you have👍🏻 lovely job

[@grahamraines8447]

Thats a lot of hard work and good use of the brash more power to your elbow, back arms legs, nature salutes you leaving a standard brilliant!!

[@bluetoad2001]

wonderful hedge laying. beautiful work. i always enjoy seeing these English hedges as we do not have them here in the states

[@sroberts605]

Nothing stopping you!

[@mchlbk]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@peterwalton1502]

Beautiful work👏👏

[@bluetoad2001]

i'd like to see this stretch of hedge now in December, 2018-January, 2019

[@hedgesandhurdles]

Good point, I will ask Paul to go back and get some new footage to post.

[@paulmatthews570]

I have not been back for 6 years so it’s probably been battered with a flail again

[@ChrisPBacon-yz6nk]

Paul Matthews are you up for a road trip and an update video? I was introduced to hedging from this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaDTo4mepbR-f80

[@paulmatthews570]

bri may It’s a 1hr drive for me, I am getting booked for winter already. Are you local to this area? Paul

[@ChrisPBacon-yz6nk]

Paul Matthews It would be quite the adventure for me, I’m in the States. But if it’s been that long, I imagine there has been considerable growth. Hopefully they are keeping it maintained. Nice work though. It’s encouraging to see a craft kept alive.

[@danromeo6571]

A work of art !

[@numptyjames1]

my grandfather laid a hedge and bank along a road in front of a farm in Surrey l went back a few years ago and there was holes in hedge opposite were cars had gon threw and the farmer said they had just bounced off the side your grandad did

[@lesvenola2380]

numptyjames1 amazing 👏👏👍

[@DukeBillhook]

Excellent hedge, really neat. Did you use a chainsaw and how long did that stretch take you?

[@boatfaceslim9005]

Excellent work!

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Top job 👍👍👍👍

[@lynneperkins494]

I am an American and I have some questions, please. 1. I hear there are very few hedge-layers left in the UK. Is interest finally picking up again, or can you command any price you like?! 2. Is the Midland style the laying of materiel to the left like that? And lastly, 3. I've always been curious. All those drastic cuts to the brush and trees...do the open wounds leave room for disease to enter? I don't imagine they do, because I bet all that brush and those shrubs evolved with the hedger. I bet they're pretty tough. Thank you!

[@edwardcharles9764]

Lynne Perkins 1. I doubt there are as many hedge layers as there used to be, but that applies to many country crafts these days. I know there are quite a few competitions and people are keen to learn the skill, along with pole lathe turning etc. I doubt anyone can command any price for anything. Things are only worth what people are prepared to pay. The problem with hedge laying is, it is very labour intensive and lots of times volunteers who want to learn the skill are used. 2. The fact the hedge goes to the left doesn't dictate it's area. Styles are usually distinguished by how they're finished. 3. I doubt and have never heard of disease or anything getting the hedge due to the cuts used. Yes they are very tough and originated to make a stock proof hedge, which grows into a living fence but much stronger. A bull could not get through to the cows in the next field even on the same day it was laid.

[@peterfullerton4028]

stunning well done.

[@lonnekeklein-aarts1900]

I was looking for Lancastershire style since I'm going to practice that as a volunteer today. Is that the same as Midlands? If not do you know the difference. I think you have the most beautiful hedge published on KZbin. Looking forward to an update how it develops. And leaving tall trees in between increases biodiversity so hurray for the field maple left. For instance for bats and they are the important nocturnal insectivorous hunters of agricultural land. Keeps the pests under control in a natural way!

[@paulmatthews570]

Lonneke Klein-Aarts Hi The Lancashire/Westmorland style has no binding and is laid between two rows of stakes the stakes alternate from one side to the other . Take a look at some videos on you tube they will give you some guide lines

[@mitebcool]

It should be the law that farm fencing is done this way as a trade off to the environment for clearing the land

[@anemone104]

Very nice. I especially like the birch heathering. Was that birch stakes, too?

[@dungeonmaster6292]

The big field maples that you incorporated into the hedge: after pleaching then and laying, what do you do about the tops and upper branches? It appears you cut them off but perhaps a little more insight into the decision making there? Thanks for any feedback EDIT: on second look perhaps you don't cut them at all, just lay the branches into the field side of the hedge. It does look as if the tops of the trees were round enough to have them stick up above the binding

[@paulmatthews570]

Hi These field Maples were approx 18 feet in height, the timber has a very tight grain and can be very unforgiving when trying to lay them, the hedge was layed this way because it was a bridle way and taking the brush from the front makes for more space. As for the top stems you must judge if it will come down safely in a controlled manner I use a long hooked stick which gives you more control, hope this helps

[@tomthompson7400]

july 2020 , how does it look now

[@torque9889]

That is a handsome fence

[@charlieneilson1239]

Lovely job!

[@ajgalloway2521]

Beautiful! 🏆

[@MufasaRoyale]

Beautiful.

[@bristolroamer917]

Nice work

[@daness8269]

Thanks for posting! New subscriber!

[@rawbacon]

Pretty cool.

[@johnhowson1169]

Very smart

[@rickster348]

- why is it all sideways?

[@paulmatthews570]

rickster348 Because you “lay” the hedge

[@rickster348]

- ok, Thanks.

[@keithlowry734]

Fencing firms in Bideford

[@agentbertram4769]

Lovely job!