Hedge laying is a centuries-old skill that transforms overgrown shrubs or small trees into a robust, living barrier. The process involves partially cutting the main stems near ground level and bending them horizontally, which creates a dense, interwoven structure. Historically common across the United Kingdom and Europe, this technique became essential during the enclosure movements to demarcate property lines. By forcing the woody material into a tight weave, hedge laying creates a durable, stock-proof fence for containing livestock.
The Physical Mechanics of Creating a Laid Hedge
The work is traditionally undertaken during the dormant season, typically between November and March, when plants have dropped their leaves and sap flow has slowed. This timing minimizes stress and avoids disturbing nesting birds. The process begins by clearing the hedge of excessive growth and dead material to expose the main stems.
The defining action is creating the pleacher, the partially severed stem that forms the main body of the laid hedge. Using specialized hand tools, such as a billhook or axe, the hedgelayer makes an angled cut almost entirely through the stem near the base. This cut creates a hinge, called the heel, allowing the stem to be gently bent into a horizontal position without snapping.
The stems are laid directionally, often slanting toward one end, to create a uniform and densely woven barrier. To secure the structure, upright wooden stakes are driven into the ground at regular intervals. These stakes support the pleachers, holding them firmly in their horizontal orientation.
The final step involves weaving long, thin lengths of coppiced wood, known as binders or heathering, along the top of the upright stakes. This binding process locks the entire structure together, adding strength and stability. The result is a robust, interwoven fence immediately capable of controlling livestock.
The Biological Principle of Rejuvenation
The survival of the laid stems depends on maintaining the plant’s vascular connection to its roots. When the pleacher cut is made, the hedgelayer ensures that a thin strip of bark, along with the underlying cambium and sapwood, remains intact. This small, uncut strip acts as a living hinge, sufficient to maintain the transport of water and nutrients between the roots and the horizontal stem.
The partial cut triggers a hormonal response. In an unmanaged plant, the terminal bud produces auxin, which inhibits the growth of lower, dormant buds, known as apical dominance. By laying the stem over, the plant loses its dominant vertical growing point, lowering the concentration of this inhibitory hormone at the base.
Removing apical dominance releases the dormant buds near the heel. The resulting surge in growth causes these basal buds to vigorously sprout new, vertical shoots, a process called basal regrowth or stool growth. This new growth quickly fills in the base of the hedge, creating the thick, dense structure that makes the barrier stock-proof.
This management method utilizes the regenerative capacity found in coppicing, where a tree is cut to the base to promote new vertical shoots. Hedge laying applies this principle horizontally, allowing the structure to provide an immediate barrier while the new basal growth establishes itself. This cyclical process allows the hedgerow to be maintained and rejuvenated every ten to twenty years, preventing it from becoming a line of gappy, tall trees.
Distinct Regional Styles and Construction
Hedge laying is not a monolithic practice; distinct regional styles developed over centuries to suit local agricultural needs and climates. These variations primarily manifest in the angle of the laid stems, the type of staking used, and the final dressing of the hedge. The angle of the pleachers, for example, can range from nearly horizontal to quite steep.
These structural differences reflect a practical adaptation to various landscapes, soil types, and the specific animals being managed.
Examples of Regional Styles
- The Midland style, sometimes called Bullock style, is highly structured and features a single line of upright stakes with a tightly woven binder along the top. This tall, sturdy barrier was historically preferred for containing large livestock like cattle.
- The Devon style often relies on a pre-existing earth bank and may use few or no wooden stakes, with stems laid at a shallower angle.
- The Yorkshire style, designed for exposed, windy uplands and containing sheep, is characterized by its low height and extreme density. The finished top is often secured with a sawn rail rather than natural binders.
- The Lancashire style typically uses two rows of stakes and a tightly woven central brush, creating a wider, more enclosed structure.