The Society laid around 1 mile of hedge on the estate , which consisted of a mixed double planted hedge, including hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, spindle and field maple. The hedge is next to a made up track which is a bridleway and predominantly has a North/ South aspect , but a leg at the top end runs East to West.
When initially laid the hedge was about 12 feet high and in top condition to lay with stems varying from around 35- 200mm in diameter, with consistent height and growth throughout its length.
The land on which the hedge stand rises from the South to the North , fairly shallowly and some parts of the hedge are accessed up a bank from the track. Being on top of the Downs the soil is free draining with a chalk subsoil.
The amount of re-growth is phenomenal, with new growth coming from all features of the laid hedge - heels and pleachers. The amount of vertical growth is truly amazing and the whole hedge is now properly stockproof.
The farm manager's team , lead by Dominic Gardner, have this winter, trimmed the top of the hedge to around 5 feet and this will aid regrowth further next growing season.
Although most of the hedge was laid South of England style, a short section of hedge was laid Midland style in March 2019- it was difficult to now see much difference between the 2 styles.
David Dunk's brilliant chestnut stakes were used throughout the length of the 2018 and 2019 work and they remain firmly in place.
There is also a shorter section of hedge, nearer the farm buildings, around 100 yards long that was laid prior to 2018 and this too has grown really well with impressive density of re-growth.
This hedge is a great example of what can be achieve by a well organised skilled team of cutters working collaboratively with the landowner. The Society and Angmering Park Estate should be proud of their efforts.
Matthew Beard
29.12.20