Introduction to Hedgelaying

Horsepond Farm is running an Introduction to Hedgelaying workshop on Saturday 7 November, starting at 10:00. It's a hands-on day in the Reading countryside, and the whole thing is built around getting stuck in rather than watching from the sidelines.

If you've never heard of hedgelaying, it's an old way of managing a hedge: you partially cut through the stems of a living hedge and bend them over, weaving them into the ground to create a thick, stock-proof barrier. It's a bit of a lost art, and this workshop is designed to walk you through the basics from the ground up. You'll learn how to shape your own living fence, working with the plants themselves rather than just trimming them back.

It's a practical session, so you'll be out in the hedge for most of the day. The farm describes it as a hands-on workshop where participants get stuck in with the basics, so expect to spend the morning and afternoon with your hands in the dirt, learning the technique by actually doing it. It's a good one if you've got a hedge of your own that needs sorting, or if you've just always wondered how those thick, traditional country hedges are actually made.

The farm is at Horsepond Farm, off Horsepond Road, Gallowstree Common, RG4 9DR, Reading, so you'll be out towards the edge of town for this one. It kicks off at 10:00 on Saturday 7 November, and the cost is £95.