With a strong and welcome presence from our farming community in previous years, the event has also been attended by people from all walks of life – including local Ryedale residents, families, conservationists, horticulturalists, students and many more. Please come along, everyone is welcome to our free community event.
Back By Popular Demand – Award Winning Hedgelayer, Farmer & Engineer Ed Caldecott Returns To Support Us.
Come and learn how it’s done by a true expert, or if you know a thing or two … we’d love to see your skills! Ryedale’s hedgelaying dream team can’t wait to welcome you to the Gilling Valley…
Following the extraordinary success and interest in our previous hedgelaying events, this year’s event has been extended – now it its third year – to take place over two days in February 2024. The event will see 200 metres of mixed hedging being laid, with demonstrations taking place of both the Midland Bullock and Yorkshire hedgelaying styles, located at Lodgefield Farm, Gilling East.
Led by Ed Caldecott, a true professional and award-winning hedgelayer, farmer and engineer – the event remains FREE to all those attending and is open to anybody keen to either learn or practise their skills in the ancient craft of hedgelaying. While Richard Mclane, founder of local business, Bisca staircases has sponsored the event as part of its environmental quest to support projects which conserve the landscape in our local area; his family are looking forward to once again hosting a strong attendance out on the hilltop of their farm, in the beautiful Gilling Valley.
THE BENEFITS OF HEDGELAYING
Hedgelaying is the only way to stimulate new growth from ground level in mature hedgerows, lasting 20+ years before the need to repeat, whilst prolonging a hedge’s lifespan without having to replant; this is a re-emerging technique which offers many benefits to landowners including:
- Effectively containing stock and providing shelter for farm animals
- Reducing costs for fencing and time needed for hedge maintenance
- Preserving the natural landscape and our traditional farming heritage
- Enhancing the beauty of the hedge itself and the surrounding countryside
- Providing natural habitats for wildlife and enhancing the local biodiversity
If left unmaintained, a hedgerow will lose its structure, become weak and gappy, often either starting to rot at the root or alternatively growing to look like a tree and thus, losing its hedging qualities.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND OUR HEDGELAYING EVENT?
Whether you’re looking to get a grasp of the skills required to lay a hedge, practise what you already know with like-minded people – or even show us how it’s done… we’d love to see you.
The day will combine masses of enthusiasm with some of the best views in Ryedale – and most importantly a passion for conserving our much-loved farming heritage and landscape. Hot drinks, soup and cake will be served.
WHEN: Fri/Sat 16th & 17th Feb 2024 @7.30am to 15.30pm
WHERE: Gilling East, Near Helmsley, Ryedale, North Yorkshire
To find out full details of the event, please click here.
Or to ask any questions, please contact Richard McLane on mclanesustain@gmail.com or 07872 530465
