National Hedgelaying Society
"Committed to conserving hedgerows through traditional skills"
Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales
Hedgelink ‘Hedgerow Futures’ Conference
3-5th September 2012The meeting ‘Hedgerow Futures’ has been called to bring together hedgerow researchers and managers to consider the following themes; Management; Biodiversity; Connectivity; Ecosystem Services and Relationship with People.
Hedgerows are unique features in the modern landscape; remnants of historical
land-use and land management they collectively constitute an enormous human
cultural and nature conservation resource. Nevertheless, hedgerows and their
wildlife face continuing challenges including removal, inappropriate management,
fragmentation, and unknown climate-change impacts. At the same time their
value as wildlife habitat, dispersal corridors, as human cultural artefacts,
and as providers of human ecosystem services is increasingly being recognised.The
conference will be held in the brand new Staffordshire University
Science Centre on Leek Road just around the corner from Stoke-on-Trent railway
station. The building will be completed early in 2012 and our meeting will
be the first to be held there. The University campus is self-contained with
en-suite accommodation and restaurant. For more information
visit:
http://www.hedgelink.org.uk/hedgerow-futures-conference-2012.htm
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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 500 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.