I started the 2024 / 2025 season by running an Introduction to Hedgelaying course for two people on the Norfolk Estate. These folk were completely new to hedgelaying and were very keen to learn, so it was my pleasure to run the course for them.

Lewis and Ellie were both already working professionally in countryside management and were keen to upskill in a different countryside craft. Run over two days, the course is designed to ease folk in gradually, but if the candidates pick up the skills quickly there is always the option of introducing some of the more advanced techniques.

I’m very pleased to say that both Lewis and Ellie produced some very nice pleaching cuts, demonstrating that they were both very capable practitioners.

Very quickly they progressed along the hedgerow and by lunchtime on day two they tackled the staking and binding.

Once again, both the candidates picked up the technique really quickly and both produced a really fine section of hedge.

Before long, we were able to stand back and admire their handiwork.

It had been a great couple of days and both Ellie and Lewis really enjoyed working on the hedge and learning the skills. It was especially rewarding for myself as passing on those skills is so important for the future. Hopefully Lewis and Ellie will go on to do plenty more hedgelaying in their respective careers.