The Hedgelayer

[@jamescrosby5562]

Born and raised in Shropshire, recently relocated to Hertfordshire. It’s beautiful but Shropshire is still coursing through my veins. Forever a Salopian. ❤

[@philipsmith7913]

Like most craftsmen he makes it look easy - until you try. Also, like a craftsman he achieves it with dignity and humility.

[@williebob100]

Nice Laying Chris , this took me back 55 years when I was 10 a old farmer gave me a Billhook I was always at his Farm probably more of a nuisance than help but he always enjoyed having me around and I learned a lot , 20 years ago someone Stolen that Billhook I’m still pissed about it now, I’ve been a Greengrocer all my life and I used to trim the lower branches of Christmas trees during the festive season, I love hazel you can do so much with it, Enjoy your days in the Hedgerows it’s not work when you go to it willingly.👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@tonyfincham6126]

Like you I learned this in the 1950 as a 14 year old from what seemed to me to be an old farm hand along with stack building lleaving a funnel to stop over heating .Now a thing of the past .

[@simongee8928]

I once watched a film of a hedgelayer who had a wee terrier. When the man had finished a stretch of hedge, if his dog couldn't get through, he was satisfied that he'd done a good days work - ! 😊

[@threeriversforge1997]

At the 5 minute mark, he nails it. Ties to the land. Ancestors and family and heritage and culture..... that's what folks surrendered without even realizing it. As a blacksmith and amateur historian of the traditional trades, it's a pattern I've seen repeated a thousand times, it seems. People become so enamored of the bloom that they forget the roots. Back in the day, they listened to the snakes in the grass who promised a better way, more wealth and comfort and all that. We talk about the hedgerows in terms of nature, but forget to include the human component. We forget that people once worked those hedges and the wood from them was turned into all manner of goods for the local market. Hurdles, gates, fences, panels, cups, saucers, troughs, chairs, the list is nearly without end, but it was ended all the same when folks turned their backs on such things in favor of "fancy goods" manufactured in far off factories. Today, the experts are telling us that ripping out the hedgerows in the 1950's was a bad idea, and hurt the ecosystem. Fair enough, I suppose, but it makes you wonder what else they were wrong about and just haven't admitted to yet. As a blacksmith, I watched my industry die off as things were mechanized, sure, but also when people like the hedge-layers were run out of business by ever more taxes, regulations, policies, laws, and whatnots. Everyone talks about the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, but never the million straws that came before it. In a lot of ways, we turned out backs on our own culture and heritage not because something better was offered, but because there was a promise of better. Today, all the things that were once made by local craftsmen from local materials are still made, just not in your country. You can still buy them in the shops, but they're made by workers on the other side of the world. Imagine that. We've made our own land so hostile to small businesses that it's now more economical to make the thing on the other side of the globe, ship it around the world, so we can buy it in a store right down on the corner. How does that make sense? How did that come to pass? More importantly, how can we right the ship? I think films like this are a very good first step. Lets get people thinking.

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Thanks for this very thoughtful reply. Hedges are very much a man-made habitat and must be managed by us for peak health and best use to wildlife /biovidiversity and for the huge benefits they bring to farmland which include flood mitigation and shade/shelter in these days of more extreme weather (sun and rain). Many people would have been out managing hedges by hand in the autumn and winter time and for that reason a) they were more gently managed and b) not all were managed at once, giving wildlife more of a variety of habitats over time. People would also be out managing verge and ditches. Now it's one person and a tractor. The invention and use of livestock fencing helped to bring an end to the use of the hedge as the barrier for farm animals.

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@cpreshropshire2489 From what I've witnessed, the key is showing people how it's in their immediate best interest. While we can talk about how the hedges are a beautiful thing and good for wildlife, that falls a bit flat with folks after awhile. How you change that is by showing them how it's of immediate benefit to them. The wood pulled out of the hedges every year is made into goods for the home, traditional items that they're ancestors have been making or eons. Cups, bowls, saucers, hurdles, stools, chairs, fences, gates, all manner of things that not only beautify their home, but actually set them apart from "the other" and give their area a beautiful appearance unlike anywhere else. And to make all those products, you need bodgers and colliers and a handful of other trades that were once common throughout the land. I do sometimes apply patriotism to the talk, pointing out that they are employing people in some far off factory to make their rakes when they could be employing a gentleman right down the road who makes fine wooden rakes from local hedges, carefully pruned to keep the hedge healthy and vibrant while also providing work for local people. While a single rake doesn't seem like much, when you start adding up all the goods that can be produced from the hedgerows, people start seeing them as a valuable commodity well worth protecting. Good for the environment and all the little creatures that call them home.... but also good for the people of the area. Zed Outdoors, here on YT, does a good job of documenting the craftsmen working tirelessly to keep these old skills alive. It shows that there's a ton of interest both in the doing and the viewing, and I think it's important to capitalize on that. The Bodger's Ball is an annual event where hundreds of people come together to demonstrate their work.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIXEpIN4hNekopo ... and you can see that it doesn't take gobs of cash to get started making things. These are traditional trades from way back in the day and are meant to be done with very simple tools, things you can often make for yourself or find at rummage sales and estate auctions for a pittance. By bringing everyone together, we turn the management of the hedgerows into far more than an ephemeral concept of "good". Through the hands of the craftsmen, we cement that ideal in the firmament of reality, making it a direct and tangible benefit to the people local to the hedge. We just have to remind folks of their culture and heritage.

[@jmarcleclerc]

With his quiet and humble demeanour this gentleman generously invites us to a masterclass in hedge laying. Thank You.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

We need this sort of thing to be shown in schools across the land. Our British traditions & skills shopuld be explained to the young, especially those which remain relevant today.

[@graceygrumble]

Not part of The National Curriculum. Fewer schools are inspiring and educating children about ... anything much outside of it. The emphasis is on passing tests.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

@@graceygrumble When Francis Chichester 64 sailed Gypsy Moth IV single handedly around the world in 1967 , my headmaster had the caretaker paint a huge world atlas on the playground. Every week, they painted dots to reflect his progress I we learned something of the countries along the way. You see, it worked !

[@graceygrumble]

@@ashleyhoward8926 Beautiful! We had a lad in our class whose granda had won the European, pigeon racing championship... well, his pigeon had, but you know what I mean. That lad was not academic, but he became the teacher's assistant for a week. We spent a week doing history (pigeon-based); geography (flight paths from Brindisi - where the pigeons had been let loose); maths (distance, time, speed) and art - drawing from photographs of 'The Winner' and writing poetry. 50 years later, I remember that week. PS. I forgot to mention that his granda gave us a talk about pigeons, too and he brought The Winner in to show us. PPS. He let him go in the playground and assured us that he would get home quicker than any other creature on earth. Marvellous!

[@paulbird3235]

You are a custodion of the English landscape, we thank you!.

[@jonathanbeale3978]

A beautifully shot video. Chris, you are a true craftsman.

[@spaceman6215]

These man altering hedges are rarer up here in Yorkshire. We use dry stone walls. And the old boys that build those have a very similar outlook on life to this gentleman. And are equally as rare

[@johnprice-c2l]

What a wonderful job to do ! It's so relaxing to see this old tradition still continued, long may it last.

[@chrishawkins6461]

Let's just take a few moments to appreciate the quality of the cinematography. This brief insight into this humble man's life was beautifully filmed.

[@PamelaSmullen-du7mx]

Love it. Hedge layers farmers of the passed really were custodians of the countryside.

[@PeasantPrep]

I was a hedge layer in North Staffordshire. I very much miss the craft. There needs to be more grants for farmers to encourage them to have more hedges conserved in this way.

[@CampOutWest]

beautiful craftsmanship and a lovely film.

[@user-uh9ho1wk4x]

well done chris keep it up you are doing a cracking job so important to wildlife

[@rfwphotovideo]

Thank you all for the wonderful comments; I'm very glad this film and Chris' skills resonate with you!

[@CricketsBay]

Oh, hello. Thank you for filming this entertaining and informative video.

[@spencersanderson1894]

What a great video, truly touching! I wish hedgelaying was practiced more widely, such a great craft and a true honest job. I love hedgelaying, nothing better than getting into a hedge with a hook!

[@jadeowenhamblyn4405]

Love it.

[@adriandarcy-taylor6429]

What a job, what a life, what a fantastic contribution to the world in general. I salute and envy you sir.

[@CrowSkeleton]

Never even seen this kind of hedge before - fascinating, though brutal to watch.

[@magesalmanac6424]

You said it, yeah it seems counterintuitive to hack away at it but plants can bounce back from it, truly impressive. And it creates a thriving ecosystem.

[@jessiebond8688]

What an Amazing Master Piece, Incredibly Beautiful ❤️❤️ am in love with Hedging.Wow😊

[@MsJackle99]

This video is exquisite! Pure poetry!

[@mayb.wright509]

Thank you. This was lovely and inspiring. I learned something new today, and find myself wondering how this skill could be imported to Canada. Blessings to all.

[@stephenrice4554]

Great video . I learned tyo do this as a nipper just left school , looking after the hedges around the fields of a nursury i was apprenticed to. Ditching and hedging , sometimes both together . Never been happier .

[@deldridg]

Wow - what a stunning and beautiful 10 minutes. A lovely story, a hard working gentle man in gorgeous surrounds doing something so meaningful and with fabulous cinematography and production to boot. Doesn't get much better than this. Thank you for this immersive and contemplative content. I've learned something and it's left me in a reflective state. Cheers from Sydney - Dave

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Thanks Dave, delighted you found the film so watchable!

[@swiss300173]

Great video, I’ve done 100s of metres of our hawthorn hedges this past winter and enjoyed it but not the tendinitis it gave me . Great job on a cold day 👍🏻

[@jonathanclarke7621]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@gerardhogan3]

Greetings from Australia. Fascinating and brilliant mate. I really like your work.

[@garphykeks]

#delightful👌😎👍

[@Buckydhu]

"In the Old Craft the hedge is the symbolic boundary or passing-over point between this world and the Other-world. Therefore the ‘hedge-rider’ is a person who can pass between the worlds." Michael Howard

[@jessiebond8688]

Thank you So Much.God bless

[@lordlouis2168]

Completely relate to the feeling of being in the nature. Always surprising to see life under your feet, flying through in close proximity. Curious birds and opportunist creatures are your companions when you're methodically working through the hedge system. We have a slightly different style in Devon. But such similarities in the approach to looking after natural boarders. ❤

[@thetek2006]

I've had a small fascination for this skill and the benefits of the process since watching a Ministry of Information film from 1942 on the BFI channel a number of years ago. I can't help but be bemused at why these old ways were allowed to be lost or close to it in a relatively short period of time when they came from centuries or millenia of learning, knowledge and experience.

[@Pesmog]

This film is beautifully filmed and produced and is a credit to those that made it, I feel it could have been edited slightly differently as there simply wasn't enough up close footage showing the detail of the actual finished layed hedge. We saw some of the process of how its made but not enough of the final product. They are wonderful works of art and most folks will never have the pleasure of seeing a finished one up close in particular the succession of delicate bends at the base of the hedge and the gentle intertwining of the branches. Regardless, it was still a great video about a talented craftsman and hopefully will win an award. 👍

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Thanks for your feedback; this wasn't really a 'how to' sort of video, more to give a flavour of a day in the life of a hedgelayer. But we will bear this in mind for future films.

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Try this film from Proper Edges - kzbin.info/www/bejne/inipfKuFhZ2GepI

[@didgebeatgeorge5668]

Awesome!!! Keep going!! Don't stop ❤❤❤

[@trianglebakehouse5649]

A fantastic video and a real skill. Thank you.

[@rebeccaslater1398]

Loved this ❤

[@terrylm235]

Good job! What about moveable hedges, possible?

[@steveakka]

Absolutely brilliant..a very skilled man 👍👍

[@stevencooper7367]

Well done, super video and a very skilled craft

[@kerrybrown1559]

Beautiful video.

[@AlreadyAUser]

A beautifully simple video. Thank you.

[@billgilbert8130]

Love this channel .We have a small horse ranch in Nova Scotia and when we can find the time we are working on restoring a old building to ne a guest house.

[@angelafoxmusic7265]

I wish New Zealand had hedges or stone walls. Chris is quite right about wire fencing being ugly.

[@GardensforLife]

Great stuff! Bringing back one of many of those almost forgotten skills back! Greetings from Ireland :D

[@jeremymurfitt1512]

Lovely video. I have done a little bit of hedge laying, such a skill and great to see the tradition continuing. I try ang go to local championships and sometimes the Nationals. I hope more younger people will be encouraged to take it up as with many rural crafts do struggle. The other thing I have to comment on the quality, shooting and edit of the video, amazing. I have been flying drones for 10 years and mainly do construction work. I bet that took quite a lot of time to produce.

[@juliawitts7270]

Love this. ❤

[@thesunman]

I am from Canada and want to learn hedgelaying

[@mattgoodchild8215]

That was a cracking video and a fantastic skill I would love that job how satisfying but very hard graft 👍🏼

[@freebornjohn2687]

My dad a Shropshire lad used to lay hedges back in the 30s, he told me he got paid by the chain (22 yards).

[@slimtimm1]

Just dynamite!!!!!

[@suedoxat8297]

Those responsible for hedge maintenance need to understand the damage from overmanagement of hedges. Flail cutting to same height every year will eventually kill a hedge. Hedges need to connect for wildlife to use as a corridor

[@oneflower3080]

Ще не бачила такої огорожі.Дуже цікаво.Це мабуть до кінця не дорубують щоб зеленіло літом.Вігідно і цікаво.

[@terryteed1903]

It is a living, shockproof fence. This is how all hedges were kept for 2000 years until the flail was invented in the 60s. It is a truley beautiful art.

[@jimwulstan8592]

I helped my father to lay hedges 65 years ago. The whole purpose is to bring down taller growth into places where the hedge needs to be thickened up in order to stop animals escaping..

[@falfield]

That WAS indeed the purpose, when the technique was devised. But the beneficial side-effects - of thickening the bases of gappy, flailed hedges so that blown leaves are trapped, so that cover is provided for nesting birds, a corridor for wildlife is produced, and a home for hedgehogs (=something that sounds like a hog and lives in a hedge....geddit?) results....these are the reasons to keep it up now, whatever is in the field.

[@jimwulstan8592]

Agreed, but you are approaching hedgelaying from a conservation viewpoint, Farming is an industry which grows livestock and crops for food, the books have to balance so the economics are most important to the land owner. If you haven’t already read Ronald Blyth’s ‘Aidensfield’

[@cpreshropshire2489]

@@jimwulstan8592 hedgerows (healthy ones) have more than just an economic or biodiversity value - for farms they provide essential shelter for livestock in summer and winter (I've seen new lambs sheltering in hedges in wind and rain and the sheep line up to lie beneath their shade in the heat of the sun in fields with otherwise no other trees), they help stop spraydrift, they can help protect against flooding (esp if cross slope contour). But they only work in these ways if they are healthy and well managed.

[@jimwulstan8592]

I agree with you but there is no reference to this in the above video when it is the most important consideration of all. It seems to me that when many hedgerows were bulldozed for arable farming their accompanying ditches were also filled which is now having a very negative effect on water runoff.

[@cpreshropshire2489]

@@jimwulstan8592 it's an interesting point you make about the destruction of ditches (along with the hedges) since they also serve a really important purpose for us and for wildlife.

[@Kenseth-q6t]

I have some old tools in my shed for the work your doing I also have old tools for making sheep fencing hurdles you work hard my friend it's a dieing trade you would not get youngster doing it

[@QOOQ8808]

In awe of the British.

[@jonny7491]

I watched a very similar video filmed not long after the war I think as there was a young woman helping and still dressed in the uniform of a land girl the gentleman smoked a pipe all the way through.

[@johngibson3837]

I watched that a while back, was good

[@swiss300173]

It’s a great one that I’ve watched it many times. The pipe never leaves his mouth 😄

[@donkrichie79]

That's how I got here

[@nicdelmundo5687]

what type of tree//shrubs are featured here

[@meirionevans5137]

Discounting the chainsaw, his only modern kit is his flask. Nice.

[@garryclarke1234]

Well shot video, great subject,but why do video makers have to infect backing music on us

[@tomasdevine7756]

Maybe a bit loud alright but excellent otherwise.

[@rowanhowe1513]

for some reason i thought this was 'The Hidgeslayer' lol

[@oneflower3080]

В якій це країні так .?

[@terryteed1903]

England.

[@UVJ_Scott]

Tired of watching the routine KZbin videos, this fits the bill.

[@danehardinge8801]

Great video but the background music was so annoying, better to hear the silence of the countryside

[@magesalmanac6424]

To each their own, I found the music lovely and soothing.

[@-Pol-]

What frustrates me these days is seeing hedges being replaced by wood panel fences. Noteably alongside motorways. Not only are they ugly and attract graffiti they offer no benefit to wildlife whatsoever. No doubt there's profit in them. It seems like an industry at war with nature.

[@bucketofbarnacles]

A beautiful dedication to this profession. Those who would like to learn more about hedging technique will enjoy this 1942 film from the Ministry of Information, hosted by BFI. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaDTo4mepbR-f80

[@yfranddu2837]

Music far too loud. Otherwise an interesting video

[@51WCDodge]

Where did all the English hedges go? Europe paid for them to be grubbed out.

[@Pesmog]

The situation is much better than it used to be compared to the 1980's. A recent LIDAR survey was done of English hedges and there are still over 400,000 miles of hedges which is thought to be more than anywhere else in the world. There was an analysis of this by the BBC news in January

[@hoWa3920]

Leaver?

[@CD-kg9by]

Hmm. Interesting, but not very educational. The filming is quite questionable. Lots of fancy close rage and big drone shots, but only one or two which show the actual outcome of that man's hard work or the process. I also can't stand how everything needs loud classical, emotional music in the background.

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Thanks for your thoughts. This was never meant to be an educational film on hedgelaying (there are quite a few of those on You Tube) - but more an impressionistic view of the art and craft of hedgelaying from the point of view of a working hedgelayer - and we felt that music plays a key part in that. Check out videos from eg Proper Edges for practical how-to info with no music!

[@johncart2082]

Could have been a really good, informative video but unfortunately ruined by 5 minutes of arty, farty nonsense at the start and a further minute and a half at the finish.

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Thanks for your feedback. This wasn't really intended as an information film, more an impressionistic picture of a day in the life of a hedgelayer for people who perhaps don't know what they do or why they do it. There are some fantastic videos on KZbin on more technical aspects of hedgelaying - Proper Edges is one to look out for.

[@johncart2082]

@@cpreshropshire2489 cheers, I'll look them out.

[@cpreshropshire2489]

Try this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/inipfKuFhZ2GepI

[@bosse641]

Dream job. ....my kind of job. Would love that.