Hedge Laying Training Courses

⚠️ Important: All participants must read and agree to our risk assessment - read it here: RISK ASSESSMENT

The Craft of Hedge Laying

For centuries, hedge laying has been part of the rhythm of the British countryside. It is a craft shaped by hand, season and landscape, passed down through generations and still as important today as it ever was.

Using little more than hand tools and attention, living stems are carefully cut, bent and laid, then woven together to create a strong, living boundary. With time, the hedge thickens from the base, becoming stock-proof, resilient and rich with life.

But hedge laying is about more than keeping a boundary neat. A well-laid hedge provides shelter, nesting places and food for wildlife, strengthens the fabric of the landscape and breathes new life into old hedgerows. Left unmanaged, even the finest hedge can become thin, gappy and tired. Properly laid, it can live on for generations.

This is an old skill with a lasting purpose, one that connects us to the land, to those who worked it before us, and to those who will care for it after us.

Hedge laying is a craft that preserves the past, nurtures the countryside and leaves a living legacy for the future.

Hedge Laying Training Courses

Get hands-on with this traditional countryside craft. Our practical courses give you the chance to learn hedge laying step-by-step, working alongside a professional hedge layer who will guide you throughout the day.

You’ll learn to:

• Follow the hedge laying process through demonstration and practice
• Develop practical countryside skills
• Use traditional tools and techniques with confidence

This is the fourth season of our Hedgerow Heroes project, and we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on this vital countryside skill while making hedge laying training more accessible through heavily subsidised course fees for all participants.

One session: £40 
3 session offer: £95 – for one person to attend three sessions

Please note: Hedge laying is an active outdoor craft involving uneven, rough ground. Courses are not suitable for anyone unable to move around easily on this type of terrain. All skill levels are welcome, and no previous experience is needed.

🌱 Course Itinerary:

• 9:30am: Arrival and registration
• 9:45am: Welcome, tool talk & safety briefing
• 9:45am–11am: Hedge laying session
• 11-11:15am: Morning tea break
• 11:15-12:30pm: Hedge laying Session
• 12:30–1pm: Lunch break & group discussion
• 1–3pm: Finish hedge laying
• 3pm: Wrap-up discussions

🧰 What to Bring:

All tools will be provided. Please bring: 

• Weather appropriate clothes
• Sturdy shoes
• Gloves (we will have some spares)
• A packed lunch and plenty of water

📍 About the Site - Sapperton Wilder

The planting site is located just outside of Sapperton village, and will be on land managed by Sapperton Wilder. Sapperton Wilder is an ambitious experimental land restoration project to trial and demonstrate how improving biodiversity on low grade agriculture land in the Cotswolds can lead to both economic and community benefits. The specific term for this initiative is ‘regenerative agriculture’. The project takes an evidence-based approach to land use to understand how to maximise returns for nature and the local community whilst producing food profitably. It is exploring different methods of land restoration including agroforestry, natural flood management, livestock rotations and innovative technical applications. The research, including monitoring nature recovery, has been enabled by a growing relationship with local science partners.

Information about parking and facilities will be sent to participants closer to the time of the event.
If you have any questions please email eve@cpreglos.org.uk for further info

⚠️ Important: All participants must read and agree to our risk assessment - read it here: RISK ASSESSMENT