Hedge fun

Adam Hewitt • Published 11 Mar 2010 15:00 0 Comments

CONSERVATIONISTS had a woody good time when they competed in the thorny sport of hedge-laying.

The 13 participants in the day-long woodland management challenge at Pangfield Farm in Bucklebury Road, Stanford Dingley, twisted and cut young trees into shape and used waste wood from other conservation projects to lay the hedges as quickly and as neatly as possible.

The aptly-named Roy Champion, 43, from Camberley, said he was delighted to win in the 'experienced' class, adding: "It was a lovely day with lovely weather and lots of comradeship. I've been doing it since 1992 as a hobby, it's all about the accuracy of the cut, the neatness of the stakes and binding, the overall appearance - lots of things. It's the only job I know where you can turn a sow's ear into a silk purse."

The competition, thought to be the only one of its type in Berkshire, is now in its third year at the 132-hectare farm, which mostly grows wheat, lupins and asparagus. Competitors are ranked as novices, veterans or experienced hedge-layers, and their creations are examined by two judges looking at the quality and angle of their cutting and the thickness and height of the hedges.

Around 50 spectators turned up to watch the competition as the hedges slowly took shape and were transformed into tightly-packed bundles of woodland habitat.

Karen Davies from Tilehurst, project manager for the Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valleys Countryside Project, helped organise the event.

She said: "It came about from the management of woodland. Coppicing creates all this waste wood and the competition is all about using up this waste sticks to manage the hedges, which also increases their biodiversity value.

"It starts out as a tall, spindly hedge but what they do encourages regeneration from the base."

Spectator Jenny Holliday, a retired teacher from Pangbourne, said: "It's very enjoyable watching them at work, particularly the professional people. I've tried it once before so I know how hard it is! It's great to get landowners interested in stewardship and conservation."

The group's next event is heathland management on Sunday, March 14 at Bucklebury Common. Anyone is welcome from 10am-4pm, meeting at Angel's Corner on the common. Bring a packed lunch. For details call 0118 930 5336.

Experienced Class

1st = Roy Champion (from Camberley, Surrey)

2nd = Gary Moore (from Burgess Hill, West Sussex)

3rd = Tony Gallow (from Harpenden, Herts)

Novice Class

1st = Roger Taylor (from Plumstead, London)

2nd = Frank Wright (from Small Dole, West Sussex)

3rd = Phil Hart (from Plumpton, East Sussex)

Veteran

1st = Clive Gilligan (from Lewes, East Sussex)

2nd = Fred O'Hare (from West Wickham, Kent)

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