The Guild of Cornish Hedgers

The main attraction of the Cornish landscape is the pattern of small fields enclosed by Cornish hedges, usually made of, or faced with, stone gathered locally. These hedges are our largest semi-natural wildlife habitat, providing a variety of conditions which elsewhere occur only in a wide range of different habitats.

There are about 30,000 miles of hedges in Cornwall today, and their development over the centuries is preserved in their structure. The first Cornish hedges enclosed land for cereal crops during the Neolithic Age (4000-6000 years ago). Prehistoric farms were of about 5-10 hectares, with fields about 0.1ha for hand cultivation.

Some hedges date from the Bronze and Iron Ages, 2000-4000 years ago, when Cornwall's traditional pattern of landscape became established. Others were built during the Mediaeval field rationalisations; more originated in the tin-and-copper industrial boom of the 18th and 19th centuries, when heaths and uplands were enclosed. This history makes Cornwall different.

In other parts of Britain early hedges were destroyed to make way for the manorial open-field system. Many were replaced after the Enclosure Acts, removed again in today's quest for cheap food, and now some are being replanted for wildlife. Cornwall is richer in historic hedges with over three-quarters of the hedges remaining today being anciently established.

These hedges need looking after. Even well-built hedges suffer effects of tree roots, burrowing rabbits, rain, wind, farm animals and people. Eventually the hedge sides lose their batter, bulge outwards and stones fall. How often repairs are needed depends on how well the hedge was built, its stone and what has happened to it since it was last repaired. Typically a hedge needs a cycle of repair every 150 years or so, or less often if it is fenced.

There is demand for new Cornish hedges. Building new, and repairing existing hedges is a skilled craft. There are skilled professional hedgers in Cornwall who are relied upon to do a proper job, but there are others who lack correct training and who are pressurised to do sub-standard work. Good training needs to be available for serious young hedgers. Also many volunteers enjoy the therapeutic value of repairing Cornish hedges and want to do a proper job, but need expert advice.

By supporting the Guild of Cornish Hedgers, we trust that this ancient Cornish craft will continue into the future, with new apprentices coming forward to look after Cornwall's heritage of hedges. http://www.cornishhedges.com