Introduction to Hedgelaying

Clive Leeke is running an introduction to hedgelaying at Horsepond Farm on Saturday 28 November, a full day's workshop that gets you stuck into the actual doing rather than just watching. It's part of his Clive Leeke - Hedgecraft collection, and the whole thing is built around the traditional skill of rejuvenating neglected hedges to keep them sustainable for the long haul.

If you've never heard of hedgelaying, it's a bit of a lost art: you partially cut through the stems of a hedge and bend them over to create a thick, living fence. Over the course of the day, you'll get to grips with the basics and work your way through to shaping your own living fence. The session doesn't stop at the heavy lifting, either; it covers the finishing touches like weaving and fettling, so you leave knowing how to tidy a hedge up properly.

It's a hands-on day, so come prepared to spend a fair bit of time on your feet and working with your hands. The session runs for six hours, and since it's out at Horsepond Farm, you'll want to leave yourself plenty of time to get there. Under-18s can take part as long as they're with a parent or legal guardian, which makes it a decent one to bring a teenager along to if they're into the outdoors.

Practical details: it's on Saturday 28 November, 10 am to 4 pm, with doors opening at 9:30 am. The venue is Horsepond Farm, off Horsepond Road, Gallowstree Common, RG4 9DR, Reading. Tickets are £95, and there's free parking on site.