Hedge laying

Author
Discussion

jonnyb

Original Poster:

2,590 posts

253 months

Thursday 30th March 2017
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Anyone have any idea the current cost of laying a hedge in the Midlands area? Also, any recommendations on who to do it?

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,133 posts

166 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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What type of hedge? How long?

jonnyb

Original Poster:

2,590 posts

253 months

Friday 31st March 2017
quotequote all
Sorry,

It's hawthorn, and about 70-90m long. Haven't measured it.

But it's fairly unruly, and needs knocking into shape!

Stuart70

3,936 posts

184 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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I flicked onto this thinking "hedge laying" was a pretentious way of talking about getting your garden hedge cut.

15 minutes later on Wikipedia, not only is it much more, it its regional, specific to the type of field location and contents: and is clearly a very real and complex skill.

Fascinating (in my sad way) - and just goes to show that every day really is a school day.

Sorry I can't be of any help, though!!

Andehh

7,116 posts

207 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Stuart70 said:
I flicked onto this thinking "hedge laying" was a pretentious way of talking about getting your garden hedge cut.

15 minutes later on Wikipedia, not only is it much more, it its regional, specific to the type of field location and contents: and is clearly a very real and complex skill.

Fascinating (in my sad way) - and just goes to show that every day really is a school day.

Sorry I can't be of any help, though!!
I was about to dismiss this thread on ''buy bushes, plant bushes, water bushes'' as well - until your post had me on Wikipedia. What a curiously fascinating subject, something only us Brits could create, refine & class as an art form - of which I would agree!

Sorry op.

Collectingbrass

2,230 posts

196 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Don't do it. My parents did it ten years ago to a hedge at the bottom of their garden and it has knackered it. The hedge either side, which forms the boundary to a large field is around 5 - 6ft in winter, theirs is lucky to go to 3 - 4ft in full summer.

Get someone in (who knows what they are doing, obviously) to look at how it needs to be trimmed and cut - they will grow to an inverted pyramid if not managed - but don't lay it

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,133 posts

166 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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I must confess I'd never heard of this concept - I thought the OP meant planting a hedge!

tokyo_mb

432 posts

218 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Many of the local farmers near me do their own.

I have seen this guys work as I drive near Much Wenlock. Looked very smart, but I suspect not especially cheap: http://www.shropshirehedgelaying.co.uk/

He has a page of hedges he has worked on that can be visited to see how they have developed post hedge-laying: http://www.shropshirehedgelaying.co.uk/hedges_visi...

tokyo_mb

432 posts

218 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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http://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/pg/contractors/main....

Might also be useful for you - finds your nearest hedgelayers who are accredited.

ColinM50

2,632 posts

176 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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SWMBO needs her bush cut, any tips?

S11Steve

6,374 posts

185 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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My other half went to Bishop Burton Agriculture and Equine college years ago, so learned a little about this.
It is a dying skill, up there with dry-stone walling, but there are loads of different methods and styles for different types of hedges and purposes.

Contact your nearest agricultural college to see if they can help out - Harper Adams or Reaseheath are north Midlands.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

127 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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If you fancy DIYing it, get in contact with your local wildlife trust. Ours run various volunteer days, where they'll teach you whatever you need to know in order to get something done. I spent a couple of days hedgelaying last winter, and am planning on doing our boundary - good couple of hundred metres...

You've missed your opportunity for this year, though - needs to be done before birds start nesting and the hedge starts sprouting for spring.

mike74

3,687 posts

133 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Definitely try and learn to do it yourself. I've done a bit of hedge laying in the past, probably the most rewarding and satisfying work I've ever done.

jonnyb

Original Poster:

2,590 posts

253 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Thank everyone!

I knew PHers would come through, even on the most obscure of things!