Battle of the Hedgelayers

The essential work of Exmoor’s hedgelayers has been recognised and rewarded through the Exmoor Hedge Competition with prizes of up to £200 being presented to the winning hedgelayers who carried out the high quality work for the benefit of Exmoor’s farming, wildlife and landscape.

Commenting on the awards Dr Nigel Stone, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority said: “It is rewarding to see such skilled work being undertaken to benefit Exmoor’s special landscape and we are grateful to the Exmoor Trust for supporting the competition and providing the prizes.

“However, we are concerned that capital grants for future hedge management will be caught up in the public funding cuts being required by Government over the next few years. This will not only have an impact on Exmoor’s landscape, but also on the local contractors for whom the work provides an important source of income.”

Dr Stone and Susan May, Chairman of Exmoor Trust, presented the prizes to the three winners; First prize went to Martyn Sloley from Brompton Ralph, who laid the winning hedge belonging to Mrs Mary Stacey of Higher Foxhanger Farm. Second prize went to Martyn Atkins of Exford who laid the hedges for Mr and Mrs CJ Tucker of Stetfold Rocks Farm. In third place was a hedge belonging to Messrs Halliday at Ashton Farm, Countisbury, laid by Mr C. Binding.

Two very distinctive types of hedge which are particularly characteristic of Exmoor occur within the National Park; small irregular fields within Exmoor’s valleys are typically bound by mixed species hedges on banks which date back to medieval times. These linear habitats are hugely valuable for wildlife, supporting a diverse range of plants, insects, birds and small mammals.

Higher up on land adjacent to and within the moor are earth and stone faced beech ‘hedgebanks’. They usually surround much larger, straight sided fields which are a trademark of hedgebanks constructed in later periods.

Traditionally, Exmoor’s hedges have been managed by regular laying to conserve them as stock-proof features. Laying is where hedges are allowed to grow up, commonly for around 8-15 years, and then each stem (or steeper) is partially cut through and literally laid down flat. Laid steepers are woven under previously laid stems or secured with a wooden crook. This work is very skilled and provides employment for numerous people during the winter months on Exmoor.