It is said that the nearly 200-year-old beech avenue by Badbury Rings has 365 trees along one side of the road – one for each day of the year – and 366 on the other, allowing for leap years. It was planted in 1835 by William John Banks as a birthday present for his mother Frances. Whether or not that count is exact, the avenue is a draw to many.
All images © Russell Woodham
Time, however, is catching up with it. Age and changing conditions are taking their toll on the original beech trees. A secondary row of hornbeam, I’m guessing planted about 30 years ago along the inner verge, is slowly stepping in to replace them, while a hedge established around 15 years ago now defines the boundary between field and road. It’s a layered landscape, shaped by careful, ongoing management.
I was asked to carry out some work for National Trust in conjunction with Cranborne Chase National Landscape. Using traditional crafts we have been restoring and rejuvenating the surrounding hedgerows.
Work throughout this winter was rarely in ideal conditions. On many days, the damp never lifted. The hedge held on to moisture, gloves stayed slick and tools felt worn smooth by the rain. Each pleacher (stem) was lowered with the slow steady rhythm of work – no shortcuts, no rushing, safety in mind and just the acceptance of going home soaked.
Even so, there are worse places to spend a day.
On the odd day, a cold, clear sunrise stretched down the avenue, light catching early signs of new growth. But by the end of the day, the contrast from brightness to damp felt like a familiar reflection of the season itself.
One evening a message appeared in my Instagram account: “Amazing job. Its going to look amazing later on this year. I’ve seen you out every day through the worst weather for years.”
It was a nice message to receive, realising people are noticing you and appreciating the work involved.
The particular style this hedge was cut and laid in required stakes and binders – and even these have their own history. We used 1,200 stakes, and just as many binders, all sourced from local coppice. Hedgelaying is inextricably linked to another long- standing rural craftsperson, the coppice worker. The relationship is a practical but vital one, sustaining woodland management while keeping traditional skills in use. In Dorset especially, this link between hedgelayer and coppice worker remains central to the character of the landscape.
To date I’ve laid 608 metres of hedge along the avenue for the Narional Trust – a satisfying stretch, though it’s not without its challenges. Several dead trees have been removed, leaving gaps that are now marked for replanting. In time, these will close, restoring the line and strengthening the corridor for wildlife.
With the season nearing its end, the buds are beginning to show, and there’s a clear sense the season is changing.
Jumping forwards six weeks I had cause to pass down the avenue recently, and already the rejuvenation has begun. We can see what’s coming next, and are preserving the structure, preparing for the future.
dorset-hedgelayer.co.uk
by Russell Woodham
