Hedges and Ditches
The old hedgerows and ditches around the fields are being renovated to improve their wildlife and landscape value.
When we moved into Burrells Farm, livestock had not been kept here for many years. The fields had been used for set-aside or silage, and the hedges had been flailed. As a result the fencing had deteriorated, weed species such as thistle, docks, ragwort and brambles were taking over the grassland, and the hedges had grown tall and thin at the base. Flail damage and increased shade had killed some of the hedge plants, leaving gaps. The willow trees had grown old and the branches were breaking off. The ditch was silted up and becoming overgrown with brambles.
As part of our Countryside Stewardship plan, we agreed to renovate the hedges, ditches and trees. This involves work spread over ten years, so that only part of the ditch and hedgerow network is disturbed in any one year. This is to minimize any detrimental effect on wildlife. The ditch has been cleared over three years, working on a different section each year, so that wildlife can move from a disturbed section into an undisturbed one.
Three of the hedgerows have been laid in a traditional style. First the hedge is prepared for laying. This involves removing the rusty old barbed wire fencing and any rubbish, removing any undesirable species such as elder, bracken and brambles, taking out any dead or diseased wood, and trimming the sides. Next a row of stakes are hammered in a line down the centre of the hedge. These are hazel poles cut from the hedge trimmings. Next the hedge is laid, a stem at a time, and woven between the stakes to hold it firm.
Each stem is carefully cut almost all the way through with a sloping cut, and lowered down, making sure that there is 'some bark and a little bit more' on the side that is the hinge. Any hedgerow trees are left standing. The hedge is finished off with a strong woven binding along the top, using willow wands cut on the farm.
Where there is a gap in the hedge, new plants are put in or old ones are layered to root into new plants. The work is done over the winter, while the plants are dormant. It is finished by the end of February, before the birds start nesting. The hedge sprouts a little bit later than normal that spring, but after that it is back to normal and growing well. The plants get more sunlight and can grow thickly from the base again. The hedges are protected from hungry grazing sheep by new fencing. The long-term plan is for them to be thick and stock-proof again.
The hedge at the bottom of some of the paddocks will be coppiced. This involves cutting all the growth down to almost ground level. The shrubs here are hazel and this is a traditional way of managing them. The hazel stools will re-sprout again, producing straight poles to use around the farm. The old willow trees that are splitting under their own weight and old age will be regenerated by coppicing. This will effectively make the tree young again and prevent it dying.