Hedges for wildlife

Today we hosted a 'hedges for wildlife' event - in aid of the Winkleigh community centre...




...But we were just the hosts. Many thanks to Tom Hynes, of the North Devon Coast and Countryside Service, who provided the expertise, and Maire Claude, Margery and Claire who did the catering.

About 20 people turned up - not crowds. But it made a good number at the hedge where Tom demonstrated how to steep hazel, cutting through the uprights and bending them over, but leaving a hinge to living wood to sustain next year's growth and fastening the whole thing with a crook.

So that's a start on the long hedge at the southern end of the nature reserve, There's so much left to do though. By the time we've done all our hedges they'll all be overgrown again...