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Hedgelaying

Gareth Beech, 8 February 2017

The country craft of hedgelaying is being demonstrated at Fagans National History Museum during 2017. Hedgelaying creates a stronger, thicker barrier to keep animals within fields, and provides shelter and shade for them. This year it will be combined with opportunities to try out the craft and the museum provided its first hedge-laying training courses for the public.

Hedgelaying, Pen-y-cae, Brecknockshire, c1936

Hedgelaying, Pen-y-cae, Brecknockshire, c1936

Creating fields and hedges

From the sixteenth century onwards, vast areas of open land were enclosed and turned into fields for agricultural use. Hedges were planted to prevent sheep and cattle from straying, and to separate grassland from crops. Such hedges also provided shelter, a source of food such as berries, and habitat for wildlife and fauna. Hedges were also cheaper than building and maintaining dry-stone walls.

 

The craft of hedge laying

Hedges are maintained by laying. Once the trees had grown to a certain height, they were cut and laid horizontally to form a stock-proof barrier. The cut is not made through the branch in order to allow the tree to re-grow. What is created is effectively a living fence. The work is done during the less busy winter months when there is less foliage and the tree will re-grow.

 

Welsh hedging styles

Methods of laying hedges vary in different parts of Wales. Styles differ according to how the branches are positioned, the use of stakes, and whether binding is used. Hedging is often accompanied by building banks and digging ditches. The hedges being laid this year at St Fagans are in the stake and pleach style from Brecknockshire (Powys).

 

Stages in laying a hedge, stake and pleach style.

Photographs taken in Sennybridge and Cray, Brecknockshire, 1972-73.

 

Photo of hedge cleared of dead wood and unwanted growth

Firstly the hedge is cleared of dead wood and unwanted growth

Photo of branches, known as pleachers, cut at the base of each stem and bent forward. When cut properly, they should continue to grow.

The branches, known as pleachers, are cut at the base of each stem and bent forward. When cut properly, they should continue to grow.

Photo of hedge showing pleachers woven between stakes.

The pleachers woven between the stakes.

Photo of hazel hetherings along the top bind the stakes and pleachers

Hazel hetherings along the top bind the stakes and pleachers

Photo of the hedge is trimmed and shaped to a uniform height and width.

Finally the hedge is trimmed and shaped to a uniform height and width.


 

 

Gareth Beech

Senior Curator: Rural Economy

Historic Properties Section

History and Archaeology Department

Gareth Beech

Senior Curator: Rural Economy

Comments (3)

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Steven Johnstone
30 May 2020, 22:13
Dear Sir/Madam

Do you still run hedge laying courses at the museum, if so i would be grateful if you could please email me the details.

Regards
Steven Johnstone
Sara
7 December 2017, 15:29
Hi there Libby

We run a hedgelaying course at St Fagans Museum in January, you'd be welcome to join us:
https://museum.wales/stfagans/whatson/9687/Hedgelaying-Course/

Sara
Digital Team
Libby Brooks
28 November 2017, 14:03
Hi Gareth,

I am desperately seeking a hedge laying course in South Wales. Would you happen to know if the museum will be running one in the future, or anywhere else that might?

Kind regards,

Libby Brooks

Please contact me at: Libbybrooks63@hotmail.co.uk