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Hedge laying at Chesworth Farm
Walkers following the
Riverside Walk through Chesworth Farm may have noticed
changes along the farm track. Part of the hedge
has been laid in traditional style - it was done by a
local expert Peter Tunks with the help of the
Countryside Wardens.
There are several reasons
for doing this type of work: It produces a thick
hedge which provides more of a barrier while being
extremely good for wildlife - thick hedges provide
great nesting sites for birds in particular. It also
benefits the health of the plant species growing in
the hedge (otherwise they become very leggy) and
encourages wild flowers and grasses along the
hedgerow.
Although the trees in the hedge are trimmed quite
severely, and are cut for laying, they are able to
survive and will sprout new shoots from the laid stems
in the Spring. In the future this new growth will be
trimmed at around 5 - 6 feet height to keep the
hedgerow thick and dense. There are a variety of
methods of hedge laying from different parts of the
country and this has been done in the local 'Southern'
style, using hazel stakes to support the laid hedge
and hazel 'binders' woven along the top of the hedge
to keep the laid trees in position in the future.
Some of Chesworth's hedgerows have already been laid in
recent years, but others have become too
mature to lay. These contain over-mature trees and
shrubs which will now have to be coppiced (with some
good specimens retained).
The best time for this
work is during the winter (outside bird nesting season
and dry summer months) and we will be back next winter
to complete this line of hedgerow. The
Countryside Wardens aim to lay as many of the hedges
around the Farm as possible.
Steve Delahunt,
Countryside Warden |
