Theres some wonderful urban hedge planting too
💚 no spirals needed here
💚species mix natve &great for urban setting (beech, holly, hornbeam, privet)
💚trimmed low early to prioritise basal branching density
💚well mulched with chip

But can anyone spot the big problem?!

Ive seen some management on my way to the meeting. This was layed, & is now getting a close trim, which will force out branching denstity in the base

But.... those stakes are very upright for a welsh lay! Welsh styles normally have stakes at an angle (which makes me feel drunk)

1. I'm not actually sure, but maybe bullace? Might go back when in fruit
2. It's standard monogyna, but I was referreing to the weird nests-on-sticks elm in the middle. A result of suckering &static management
3. Currant!
4. spot on, old pleachers showing the marks left by last hedgelay Xyears ago

Where are you? Id guess youd only get them in *very* long established hedges, or ones cut from wildwood.

A funny old world, look what I found on a site visit today! Hedge currants

Miles from any houses so as far as I can see its unlikely to be a garden escapee

YES! I love finding Redcurrant in the wild. Sometimes when you find one in a very old hedge (&you can rule out garden escapee) I use it as a sign of a *properly* ancient assart hedge; one left as strips when the ancient wildwood was cleared for fields.

Megan.gimber@ptes.org
Or 07816943675

Thank you!

Welcome to the water! I've lived aboard for 9 years - massive reduction in my carbon footprint, even bigger increase in my freedom, happiness and nature immersion