ASH-IN-A-HEDGE

It was my second hedge-laying day of the season today and when I finished it was really dark. I quite like to see trees at intervals in my hedges. Although one sweet chestnut, three Ashes and four Oaks have chosen to collapse into the adjoining fields during the past few years, we still have a lot remaining.

But. I always think it's a bit disappointing to see an ash that's been incorporated into the hedge when it was layed (in this case perhaps fifty or more years ago). It's not the right species to contribute to a dense hedge, which would be the aim for stock-proofing AND for wildlife. I certainly don't lay any Ash myself, but now I need to decide if this ash 'tree' might be tough enough to stand up to the top-of-the-hill winds, or shall I just cut it down? I've decided, really. I will cut it down leaving the massive warped and scarred ball of wood and I am pretty sure that dozens of strong straight shoot will emerge in the spring. Resilient stuff, Ash, so long as it's not diseased.