Hedge
When you next visit Co Tops you may well hear the sweet song of robins, or wrens. Why is this, you may ask? Well, our small, feathered friends have a new habitat at the rear of the Co Tops site. What was once a dense mass of blackthorn, hawthorn and some willow trees has now been cut down to size.
The bank behind the main building had been planted, some years ago, with some specimen ash trees and lots of blackthorn whips, to try to “soften” the landscape. After 10-20 years of growth, the blackthorn had completely invaded the area. It tends to colonise outwards from the main trunks, so that in no time you have a thicket. It had become a congested mess. Something needed to be done. Although the area seemed impenetrable, vandals had managed to get past the boundary fence, and, under cover of the foliage, had managed to enter the site.
If you look at the photo shot before the hedge was laid, you will see that people can easily get past the trunks. Furthermore, no small bird would ever think of nesting in such open cover.
Along comes a hedgelayer one day, in the guise of Donato Cinicolo. Nick and Donato had known each other for almost a decade, and the possibility of laying the hedge was brought up
over a cup of tea one sunny day last September. The idea sounded promising, so wheels were set in motion. One cold, December day work began to give some order to the bank. Many of the trees and bushes growing down each side of the bank, away from the main line of the new hedge, were cut out. Once the area was cleared it was possible to work on the line of thorn trees which would form the line. The main ash trees were left as standards, just as in any old hedge-line.
In traditional hedgelaying, the upright stem (pleacher) is partially cut on the top side. The cut is gradually opened up with an axe, and the tree is laid over gently on its side at about 30 degrees to the ground. The tree continues to live at a reduced rate, as there is still about 20-30% of the bark (and thus the sap layer) present under the cut. More importantly though, the stump throws up a flurry of new shoots (typically 10-20) which will grow upwards seeking the light. In effect, the hedge becomes a thorny, living, woven green fence. And, it improves with age! It may only need laying again in 15 years or so. A tricky deterrent for vandals, but a wonderful home for songbirds and small mammals.
Plus, now that the bank is cleared, light reaches down to the ground level, allowing the planting up of colourful shrubs/flowers. The rear of the site has been completely transformed. Nick is considering the possibility of having guided tours, with tea and cakes for visitors!
Donato Cinicolo
06 January 2004