The second weekend in January saw me heading off to Sittingbourne in Kent, where I was running a two day hedge-laying course for conservation volunteers  down near the Swale Estuary. I really enjoy teaching others the age-old craft of hedge-laying. It’s the satisfaction you get in passing-on the skills and knowledge, and watching the participants as they grow in confidence, gradually get better at making the cuts and building the hedge as they go.

The hedge is situated alongside a footpath that leads into Milton Creek Country Park. A complete contrast in scenery to what I am used to up here in rural Sussex, the immediate area is very industrial with an amenity tip on one side and a factory that fabricates cast concrete ducting on the other. Nonetheless, the area is rich in wildlife and the hedge is an excellent way of ‘greening-up’ the access into the Country Park.

With 200 metres of hedge (mainly hawthorn, blackthorn, and willow) to lay, it was good that we had about 19 volunteers turn up for the course. In fact, most of the hedge was laid by the end of day one, and there was just a small section of staking plus the binding left to do on day two.

There were slightly fewer volunteers on day two and the weather was less favourable, but everyone was determined to get the job done in good time which we duly did. We received many votes of thanks from local passers-by, which is always nice to hear. Best of all, the volunteers were delighted with what they had achieved and thanked us for leading the training.  All in all, a very enjoyable weekend.