Hedge Laying

Alongside gate making, hedge laying forms the bulk of our work from October through to the end of February. We also run hedge laying courses, including training on your own hedge if you prefer. Please visit our TRAINING AND TUITION page for more information.

Hedge laying is a traditional countryside craft that creates a living fence to contain livestock while allowing wildlife to thrive. The basic method involves using an axe or billhook to partially cut through the stem of each tree or shrub, allowing it to be carefully bent over without severing it completely. In spring, sap continues to flow through the laid stem, encouraging vigorous new growth and creating a dense, living barrier.

There are many regional styles of hedge laying across the UK. Most of our work is carried out in the traditional Devon style. Where there is no earth bank, we generally use the North Somerset style, and occasionally the South of England style. In Devon, hedge laying, also known as pleaching, is traditionally referred to as “steeping.”

A traditional Devon hedge is built around an earth bank, which may be faced with stone or left unfaced. Where necessary, the bank is repaired using turf before the hedge is steeped horizontally across the top. Finally, soil is cast back onto the bank to restore its height and ensure its long-term stability. For more information about this process, please see our BANK REPAIR page.

Many Devon hedges are centuries old, with some dating back to the ancient woodland that once covered much of the countryside. These historic hedges are not only an important part of our rural heritage but also provide invaluable habitats for a wide variety of wildflowers, insects, birds, and small mammals, making them a vital feature of the landscape.