Bullock Proof!

Good evening blogland. I'd like to tell you all about a wonderful Friday the guys at WWP had last week. We had a days instruction on the ancient art of hedge laying. Our tutor for the day was none other than the infamous Wade Muggleton, all round woodland skills expert. We accessed the training through the Wyre Community Land Trust, who Working in partnership with the forestry commission and Natural England, would like to replace as many fences as possible with laid hedge fencing.

Wade first taught us why this art exists. Hedge laying is the ancient skill of converting a natural growing hedge in to a functional fence that will keep live stock in its field. It's said that the fence must be strong enough to contain a bullock!

There are many variations on the laid hedge, depending on the geographical area you are working in, but as we are in the Midlands, the style of hedge we learnt to lay was the 'Midland Style'.

Wade talking the group through the methods and purpose of the laid hedge.

Then it was up to us to get stuck in an have a go.

Dan and Gary using Bill hooks to pleach hazel rodes. Pleaching is the process of part cutting through trees and saplings growing in the hedge which allows them to be pushed over and will remain growing at a 30 degree angle along the hedge row.

Ian receiving instruction from Wade on how to weave in the heathering. These are 2 hazel rods bound together over the stakes which tie the whole hedge together creating a firm top to the fence.