Learn to Hedge Lay for a Day

06/02/2008

Laying and maintaining the hedgerows along the boundaries of the restored Droitwich Canals is very important to help ensure that wildlife will continue to live and thrive there and your help is needed! 
  
If you fancy learning about siding, thinning and laying come along to one of the special hedge laying days and learn more about this fascinating traditional craft. Day-long courses are being run in the Briar Mill area of Droitwich Spa on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th February 2008. Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Advantage West Midlands, the training is free.
  
Even today, hedges are still managed using a traditional method to help fill out any gaps that may have appeared, encourage good growth and generally ensure that boundaries are clearly defined. The process involves thinning out smaller stems and laying the larger ones horizontally,supported by a series of stakes and a woven binder (a heathering) along the top. Although initially the effect is fairly dramatic, the hedge will not only recover but go on to flourish as a result.

 

Interested volunteers should dress appropriately in work clothes and preferably safety boots, though these can be supplied.    It will also be necessary to bring a packed lunch.
 
Anne Jenkins, Regional Manager for HLF West Midlands said: “We are 
delighted to support this project which brings to life traditional skills used for centuries in canal management. People today can now play an active part in maintaining, learning about, and developing their local heritage as part of the restoration of this historic waterway.”
  
More dates for the diary

Work is progressing well on the restoration of Droitwich’s canals and with spring just around the corner there are a host of different ways  by which the town’s residents can get involved with the project including:-

  
21st February 2008 – Create an Otter Holt and discover more about these elusive British mammals by spending a day with the canal restoration project Ecologist.
  
8th March 2008 - Polish your skills in talking to the public by attending some training in giving guided walks.  During this informal and fun day you will spend time discovering some of the skills needed to deliver a good guided walk. 

 

Booking for all the above activity sessions is essential, anyone interested in taking part should contact  Lucy Bowles, Volunteer and Community Co-ordinator by telephone: 01452 318088 or email: Lucy.Bowles@BritishWaterways.co.uk.