The Weald's Living Boundaries

The Kent and Sussex Weald is a landscape of rolling hills, ancient woodlands, and scattered oast houses, their white cowls and conical roofs a familiar sight against the sky. But look closer at the fields and lanes, and you'll see another defining feature: the hedgerows. These dense, thorny boundaries are as much a part of our rural heritage as the oast houses themselves. For centuries, they have marked property lines, sheltered crops and livestock, and provided a superhighway for wildlife. Yet the craft that keeps them healthy and stock-proof – hedgelaying – is in danger of vanishing.

The Craft of Pleaching

Hedgelaying is not simply trimming a hedge. It is a skilled winter craft that involves partially cutting through the stems of woody plants – usually hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, or field maple – and bending them over at an angle. This technique, called pleaching, keeps the plant alive while encouraging new growth from the base. The laid stems, or pleachers, are then woven together and held in place with stakes driven into the ground and binders – twisted hazel or willow rods – woven along the top. The result is a living fence that is thick at the bottom, where livestock would otherwise push through, and bushy on top.

Different regions have developed their own styles. In the Weald, you'll often see the South of England style, with a double-brushed finish and a neat, slightly rounded top. A good hedgelayer reads the hedge like a book, selecting the right stems, cutting at the correct angle, and knowing when to leave a gap for wildlife. It is a craft passed down through generations, learned by hand and eye, not from a manual.

More Than a Boundary

A well-laid hedge is a marvel of practical rural engineering. It is stock-proof, wind-resistant, and long-lasting – a good hedge can stand for 15 to 30 years before needing to be laid again. But its benefits go far beyond fencing.

• Wildlife habitat: The dense base provides nesting sites for birds such as yellowhammers and whitethroats, while the flowering tops attract insects. Dormice use hedgerows as corridors to move between woodlands.
• Shelter and shade: For livestock, a thick hedge offers protection from wind, rain, and sun, reducing stress and improving welfare.
• Carbon storage: Hedgerows lock up carbon in their woody biomass and in the soil beneath them.
• Natural pest control: They harbour predators like ladybirds and hoverflies that keep crop pests in check.

In short, hedgelaying is a low-tech, high-impact way to manage the countryside. It is also a heritage craft that connects us to the rhythms of the farming year – always done in winter, when the sap is down and the leaves are off.

A Vanishing Skill

Despite these benefits, hedgelaying has declined sharply since the mid-20th century. The drive for larger fields and mechanised farming led to thousands of miles of hedgerow being removed. Those that remain are often flailed – cut mechanically every year – which eventually leaves a gappy, leggy hedge that no longer serves as a stock-proof barrier or good wildlife habitat. Flailing is quick and cheap, but it is no substitute for laying.

The bigger problem is a shortage of skilled practitioners. Most hedgelayers are over 50, and few young people are taking up the craft. It takes years to become proficient, and the work is seasonal, physical, and often poorly paid. Without a new generation, we risk losing the knowledge – not just the techniques, but the local variations and the eye for detail that make a well-laid hedge a thing of beauty.

Learning the Craft

The good news is that hedgelaying is enjoying something of a revival. Countryside organisations, conservation charities, and local hedgelaying groups run training courses and competitions. Many offer weekend beginners' courses where you can learn the basics – how to use a billhook safely, how to select and cut pleachers, and how to build a sturdy stake-and-binder structure. Apprenticeships with experienced layers are also available, though they are competitive.

If you have a hedge on your land – even a small garden boundary – consider having it laid rather than flailed. It may look drastic at first, but within a season the hedge will regrow thicker and healthier. And if you are inspired to learn, start by watching a local layer at work. Ask questions. The hedgelaying community is famously generous with its knowledge.

• Find a course: Look for winter weekend courses run by rural skills centres or county councils.
• Join a group: Many counties have hedgelaying societies that welcome beginners.
• Volunteer: Conservation charities often need help with practical tasks, including hedge work.
• Practise: Start on a small section of hedge and seek feedback from an experienced layer.

The Weald's hedgerows are as much a part of its heritage as its oast houses and timber-framed barns. By supporting hedgelayers – and perhaps becoming one yourself – you help keep this vanishing craft alive for the next generation.