Bookmark this site : CTRL+D | 
National Hedge Laying Championships 2008
October 2008
The National Hedge Laying Society are holding their annual National Hedge Laying Championship at the Sandringham Estate by gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen on Saturady 25th October 9.30am - 5pm, entry free of charge.
Hedgelaying is the traditional method of management going back many hundreds of years that made hedges stock proof and able to keep animals in or indeed out of fields. By partially cutting through each stem along the hedge and bending them over to be weaved in a neat line, an overgrown hedge is turned into piece of pure craftsmanship and a hedge which will develop into a wonderful wildlife habitat providing ideal nesting conditions for birds and shelter for many species of insect and small mammal.
The National Hedge Laying Society whose patron is His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales encourages the many local styles that exist throughout the country, seven of which can be seen at the competition. Each competitor is given a 10-yard section to lay in 5 hours and their efforts judged against criteria such as stock-proofing, quality of cutting and binding.
On the day there will be a ploughing match, several rural craft demonstrations and a variety of trade stands. It is a wonderful chance to see skilled craftsmen producing something both fascinating and unique and of great value in preserving our environment. The event has been co-sponsored by Natural England, a partner in Hedgelink.
