MORE HEDGE-LAYING JOY

I have been laying BIG Blackthorn pleachers all morning. It was a great session.

Hawthorn and Blackthorn are particularly treacherous to lay as they can split easily, but both reward you greatly if you get it right. Look at the colours in that heartwood!

Big pleachers in any species are tough to manage because of their sheer weight. If you don't get them to fall gently and smoothly into the right position, on the first attempt, then there's a big risk of them just snapping off - and you've lost everything!

I've developed a few rope tricks to assist me in this, as I am always working alone on this stuff.