Each winter, we offer 1-day workshops teaching traditional hedgelaying: A heritage craft that creates wildlife habitats.

Hedgelaying courses

30 January 2027

13 February 2027 also available

Each winter, we offer 1-day workshops teaching traditional hedgelaying. Courses are taught by professional, practicing hedgelayers and are aimed at all skill-levels, from absolute beginners to enthusiasts wanting to learn a new style or meet new people.

Previously taught hedgelaying styles have included North Somerset & Midland style (https://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/hedgelaying/brash/). Examples of these and other techniques, such as 'dead hedging', can be seen around the Grow Wilder site.

Healthy hedgerows

Hedgerows have become a defining feature of our native landscape, so much so that it’s easy to view them as natural features or perhaps not to notice them at all.

In fact, hedgerows offer one of the best – and oldest – examples of people working in harmony with nature.

What is hedgelaying?

The National Hedgelaying Society (https://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/) describes hedgelaying as “a craft that preserves the past and protects the future.”

In practical terms, laying a hedge involves partially severing the stem of the trees in the hedgerow, allowing them to be laid at an angle of around 45 degrees. This fills in gaps which have developed in the hedge, whilst cutting the stems encourages the trees to send up new vertical shoots creating a thick, dense hedge from the ground level up.

The laid hedge is then held in place with a supporting structure of stakes (poles) and binding – the exact method varies according to the regional style used.

Find out more about hedgelaying here (https://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/hedgelaying).

Description supplied by the event organiser.