Good turnout at annual hedge laying competition (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Good turnout at annual hedge laying competition

12:14pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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NEARLY 30 competitors turned out for the Friends of the Lake District’s 31st annual hedge laying competition last weekend.

Crowds of spectators enjoyed the sunshine at Heversham and watched as more than 160 metres of hedgerow was laid.

The top award in the Championship class went to Henry Kirkwood, of Wennington, who also scooped the award for Best Overall Hedge on the Day, while Henry Knowles, of Grayrigg, won the young farmers class.

William Hodgson, of Grayrigg, came first in the open class and the novice class went to Max Roclawski, of Bramley, Leeds.

Jack Ellerby, FoLD policy officer, said: “It was terrific to see young farmers representing over a third of the competitors. They are the future of retaining traditional skills in the countryside such as hedge laying and dry stone walling.

“Our competition brings more people into hedge laying in our local style, helps to raise the standard of work and leads to much more hedge laying taking place. In turn this helps keep our hedgerows healthy for wildlife and enhances our special landscape.”