Hedge laying at Alderley Edge, Sunday 3rd January 2016

We usually begin the year gently, with a short walk around one of the local NT properties, but this year we’d been offered some hedge laying at Alderley Edge. And with an offer like that, what’s a conservation group to do?

 

After weeks of awful weather, the day dawned dry and cloudy, but as we were gathering at 9.30am the rain duly started falling, and would continue steadily for the rest of the day, accompanied by a chilly easterly wind. Undaunted by the abysmal forecast, eight of us had turned up with an impressive array of waterproofs, woollies and wellies.

 

The wellies were certainly needed, as we were laying a hedge that was beset by thick mud and several inches of standing water. Plenty of squatting rather than kneeling while working today!

 

A field that's about to get brown, and a hedge that's about to get down!

 

 

Mud, water and wellies, with a bit of hedge laying

Neil manfully struggled to get a fire going, but had to give up after a while as even the use of a blowtorch couldn’t overcome the water that had soaked through every bit of the wood pile.. He was effectively trying to set fire to a puddle.

 

There was smoke, but sadly not much fire

 

After a brief and chilly break to enjoy some warm drink and Lisa’s brownies, we pushed on with the task, but very soon the cold started to seep into everyone’s bones. Just before 1pm it all became too much, and we tidied up the bits of hedge that we had laid, knocked in a few stakes and packed up to head home to a warm bath and hot food.

 

Hopefully one day soon, the rain will stop and we’ll be able to enjoy a normal workday for the first time in about 2 months!