National Hedgelaying Society
"Committed to conserving hedgerows through traditional skills"
Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales
History of the Society
Hedge laying
declined after the 1939 -1945 war due to many factors such as the availability
of labour, the introduction of machines to cut hedges, wire fences and changes
in agriculture that placed emphasis on production. By the 1960's hedges
were declining at an alarming rate. Lack of maintenance meant that hedges
became tall and gappy with nothing at the bottom; in effect a line of trees.
Many hedges were grubbed out to make larger fields that could be more efficiently
managed by larger machinery. In the early 1970's three hedge layers Mr Fred
Whitefoot, Mr Clive Matthew, and Miss Valerie Greaves realised that soon
the valuable skills of hedgerow management that had been acquired over hundreds
of years would be lost forever. 
These
founder members conceived the idea of setting up a National Society to enable
the skills to be documented, and passed on to others. Competitions were
organised all over the country. A National Competition is now an annual
event. The Society has over 400 members; some are professional contractors
whilst others practice hedge laying as a hobby, helping out as volunteers
at many national nature reserves and conservation site. Legislation was
introduced in 1997 to protect hedgerows. 
The
decline has now been halted and many miles of hedgerow are being restored
under farm environment schemes. Maintenance of hedgerows is now part of
good farming practice and the skills of the hedge layer are in great demand.