National Hedgelaying Championships

A peaceful Leicestershire field resounded to the roar of 130 chainsaws as contestants cut and slashed in their quest to be the national champion hedge layer.

A winding mile of 15ft hawthorn hedge was divided into sections, then sliced, bound, and weaved as the centuries-old craft continued a remarkable comeback.

Armed with axes, billhooks, and chainsaws - the only concession to the modern age - hedge layers from all over Britain vied for the title. Hedgelaying is a hugely important, traditional craft, which involves partially cutting through each stem along a hedge and laying it over at an angle to form a thick, impenetrable, and most importantly, living barrier. Hedgelaying prolongs the life of the hedge, keeps it tidy and safe, and increases its value to wildlife.

Only 20 years ago, the ancient art seemed doomed as hedges made way for wide-open agri-business.

But thanks mainly to a side-effect of the EU Single Farm subsidies and the growth of the environmental movement, the craft has been revived.

To qualify for their subsidy, farms must leave a 6ft-wide strip of uncultivated land on either side of hedges. As a result, farmers are choosing to preserve them properly. New hedges are being planted as a refuge for threatened wildlife, and the numbers of hedge layers, who can earn up to £12 a yard, are growing.

Each contestant was given a 10-yard section to lay in five hours. Results were judged on neatness, cutting, and binding.

Of the 13 classes,​ notable winners were Tom Evans from Powys Wales, John Savings from Oxfordshire, and Colin Clutterbuck from Somerset, over Supreme Champion was Malcolm Johnson from Staffordshire who won the Prince Charles Cup.

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