The Blackdown Hills Hedge Association

14/02/2026

Last Saturday was our last training session of this season. Despite the rather damp conditions underfoot, our trainees came with great enthusiasm and produced some quality work on a hedge that offered variable challenges.

We also had a visit from Martha Kearney and BBC Open Country! Trainees and trainers were interviewed about the day and we look forward to listening to the programme on radio 4 in the coming weeks.

13/01/2026

Our first training day of 2026 took us to Small ridge near Axminster. We had a mainly hazel hedge with some big material in places. Cracking weather and we were supplied with soup for lunch, along with some great work from the trainees, result was a superb day. Thanks to everyone involved!

07/12/2025

We stuck to our guns, despite the pessimistic weather forecast, and held our December training day in Yarcombe. We had an almost full course of 11 trainees on a tricky hedge with mainly maple, hazel and blackthorn. It was gappy in places and the maple was awkward after heavy trimming. Our trainees worked hard and created some cracking hedges. We dodged the weather, an added bonus.

Wishing everyone a happy festive season, we'll see you in January for the next training day. 🌲

09/11/2025

Last Saturday was our 3rd training day of the current hedgelaying season. We had 11 trainees on the day working on a great hedge in Yarcombe. The hedge had been week maintained over the years and was in great condition for our trainees to have a good go at cutting, along with some more tricky elements where it instructors helped them negotiate. One hefty shower stopped play for a sorry time but it didn't dampen the spirits. Well done to everyone for a great day.

03/10/2025

Good luck to everyone involved with this prestigious event!

15/09/2025

Hedgelaying is BACK! Yes, a new season has begun and we kicked it off with a cracking training day in Yarcombe. Our nine trainees came along with a forecasted threat of heavy showers all day. Only one got us all day long, the rest of the time we were bathed in sunshine!

The hedge we worked on had been laid many years previously, had been sympathetically trimmed since then and allowed to grow for the past 4 years. This meant the material we had was it great condition and didn't require too much hard work to get into it. Our trainees worked really hard all dayand created an absolutely cracking hedge. Congratulations everyone.

We will be training in October, November December, January and February so head to our website for details and to book yourself a place!

04/06/2025

Just to say there is a talk on hedgerows and their maintenance with hedgelaying author Richard Negus at the Exeter Corn Exchange this Saturday 7th June, 6pm.

Link here to book.

A book talk with celebrated writer, conservationist and hedge layer Richard Negus

05/10/2024

We had our second hedge training day for this season today. Wonderful weather all day long along with our wonderful trainees. They worked really hard on not the most straightforward of hedges, but the results were terrific. Great job everyone!

06/03/2024

On Saturday 2nd March we hosted our annual Skills of the Hills hedgelaying competition near Clayhidon. 70 cutters were in attendance competing in Novice to Open classes. Although the field was soggy, we were blessed with a dry day. Congratulations to all those who competed, there was cracking work all round, and especially to those who were rewarded with a prize! Hope to see you all again next year!

Many thanks to Andy Mayson for supplying the photographs of the day. Below are photos 78-120

06/03/2024

On Saturday 2nd March we hosted our annual Skills of the Hills hedgelaying competition near Clayhidon. 70 cutters were in attendance competing in Novice to Open classes. Although the field was soggy, we were blessed with a dry day. Congratulations to all those who competed, there was cracking work all round, and especially to those who were rewarded with a prize! Hope to see you all again next year!

Many thanks to Andy Mayson for supplying the photographs of the day. Below are photos 0-77

14/01/2024

We had our first training day of 2024 on 6th January. After all the rain, the clouds parted and were greeted by a beautiful day on the Blackdown Hills. Our trainees set about tackling a tricky hedge, having a mixture of species, with some heavier sections to contend with. Everybody was keen and worked tirelessly throughout the day, motivated by trying to get rid of those mince pies consumed over Christmas. We were also joined by Jessica Oravetz, a student from America studying hedgelaying for her Masters in Folklore. Jessica had been royally entertained by our committee through the week and it culminated in a hedge training day.

Thank you to all of our trainees, we hope you enjoyed the day? Cracking days work from everyone involved.

02/12/2023

Well what a day! The most stunning weather and a great bunch of trainees made for a perfect day hedgelaying. Thanks to all the trainees, you worked rant hard and laid some fantastic hedges.

Happy Christmas everyone, see you next year!!!