BBC2

Some pics here: http://www.english-nature.org.uk/imagelibrary/searchresults.cfm?category=166&thumbnail=Y&page=11

 

Hi Hornbeam, thanks for the pics!
Its good that those collection of pics also show a "flailed" hedge for contrast to the layered hedges! And boy, is it a mess or what!

Kind regards
Roy

 

Thing is, Roy - if you're driving along country lanes, the hedges have to be kept back for safety reasons. It's a balance, as always. I have to say, I was horrified when I first arrived in Herts and was driving along those lanes - they looked as though they'd been flayed - definitiely the right word. BUT - they grow really thich and dense. That has to be a positive aspect for the wildlife, even if they're scared to death by the flaying....

I don't know - there are positives and negatives to everything. Somehow we have to compromise between the needs of transport and communication and those of the wildlife around us. I'm sure there is a solution to the dilemma - but I don't know what it is. Anyone else got a solution?

 

Its all about ecomomics. One man with a flaying gizmo on a tractor can do more in a day than a team of traditional hedge layers could do in week. Some of the hedges on National Trust properties like Hatfield Forest are layered. They look good, are good for wildlife and are stock proof.

Thankfully, no one yet has come up with a machine that can build drystone walls. They could be the very last surviving country craft.

 

If you drive along the M10 you'll see some hedge-layering - it was done just a few years ago - and it looks really good!

Have you been on any of the BTCV things, Hornbeam? It's such a good thing that they, the Wildlife Trust, the Woodlands Trust and the National Trust are preserving something of the old ways of doing things - and making sure some of us carry on doing them in those ways. There may be other organisations - probably are - but I don't know about them! Please let me know of others.... I'm very interested!

 

Royster it is as Dendy says just a question economics and I can't see that changing. However glad to hear the National Trust is using layering. On my walks round my village you can see the old hedges that were once laid even if now they are flailed.

 

Hi Royster when it stops raining I'll pop out and take one and post it up.

 

Okay Dendrobe, Hornbeam and Fran - as you all
rightly say its a case of economics and safety and practicality etc.

But, the organic thing is far, far from the most economic or practical idea either as far as farming is concerned but still its highly popular - and why, because its been hyped up by the media and the gorvernment as being sustainable and environmentally friendly (forgive me as most people on G.C. do truly understand its value but most of the general public seem to just go along with the idea as being seemingly a good thing to do).
In which case, surely hedge row maintenance can fall into the same category?

On a further note, why are there so many petty criminals wasting in prisons doing nothing, at the expense of the taxpayer when surely many more of them could be doing community service, or call it what you will, including hedgerow work? Maybe this could be of value to the local community, wildlife and also to the potential prisoner (human being, afterall!!).

These are just fleeting thoughts coming to light. Nothing more. Perhaps there is some substance in them but nevertheless I would imagine there could be good debate here.

Celia, its raining here persistantly too! Look forward to seeing your hedgrow pics!

Kind regards to all!
Roy

 

Very conveniently, a hedge was being layered right by the queue for the traffic lights in the next village, so I was able to watch with interest, its progress - fascinating

 

Marge, next time you are at the said traffic lights would it be possible to take a pic or 2 of the layering hedge, please?

Eck, I'm really starting to get excited about this programme on this coming Friday night after all!!

Kind regards
Roy

 

LOL - if I happen to be stopped at the right place and have my camera, I will oblige

 

Royster, petty criminals dont spent time in prison, they may be given a fine or an absolute discharge, where ever did you get that info from.they have to commit imprisonable offences to spend time in custody.

community sentences are given because offences are serious enough to warrant the restriction of liberty,but not so serious as to justify custody.

punishment is dished out according to the level of seriouness.

answer to to your question of giving criminals to maintenance of hedge rows, there is an issue of health and safety here.

Judges and magistrates work within the framework of the law.you would not know that.

 

Here are a couple of photos to show our attempt at layering. This is the hazel tree
And this is the bit we layered.

As you can see we made quite a substantial cut into the branch before bending it down. You can imagine how surprised we were that the branch came into leaf and produced hazel nuts. Hope the photos are clear enough.

 

celia, layering , is this done by skilled people? or can anyone have a go.

 

I like the black and white posing under the Hazel!