HEDGE TRIMMING

Looking at my daily photos you'd think I didn't do any woodland or hedgerow management this winter. The weather has been unhelpful since Christmas, but actually I'm half way through an estimated 100 hours of woodland work and half way through an estimated 40 hours of hedgerow work for the season...and running out of time!

I layed this hedge three years ago and it is one of several that I now plan to cut by hand on a two or three year cycle. It generates loads of hazel for use in the garden or in my land art, and it regenerates the hedge to maximum effect because each cut is clean and I can lay across any gaps.

There's lots of bluebells beginning to grow on the bank so in a few weeks this could be looking rather special. With a bit of help from the weather maybe I'll be able to record good progress in the woods too before the season is over.