Field Boundary Technical Guidance Documents

As part of our effort to promote good practice in field boundary management, Durham County Council has produced a series of technical advice sheets, complemented by laminated guidance cards on:

• Hedge laying and coppicing.
• Hedge planting and restoration.
• Hedge trimming.

These are available from Durham County Council. If you would like a copy, please email Landscape. Alternatively, these documents are also available to you in the form of PDF files.

Hedgelaying and Coppicing

Hedgelaying is a traditional form of hedgerow management which involves partially severing woody plants at a point just above ground level. The cut stems, known as pleachers or plashers, are then laid over and interwoven to form a living fence.

Hawthorn is the commonest plant used but most broadleaved species including blackthorn, holly, ash, hazel and rose can be successfully laid.

Largely neglected since the second world war, hedgelaying is regaining popularity, largely stimulated by grant schemes, as its role as a means of ensuring the long term health of hedgerows has become more apparent. Coppicing is a more drastic form of management involving the felling of plants to ankle height. It is used on old hedges which are beyond laying. When successful it encourages the growth of multiple stems from the stump.

Both coppicing and hedgelaying can help to prolong the natural lifespan of the treated plant. The Technical Advice Sheet on hedgelaying and coppicing contains detailed background information concerning these activities. The Technical Guidance Card illustrates each stage of the process.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

Hedge Laying Guidance Sheet.pdf (6 pages, 1.3mb)
Hedge Laying and Coppicing Technical Guidance Sheet 1

Hedge Laying Card.pdf (6 pages, 514kb)
Hedge Laying and Coppicing Technical Guidance Card 1

Hedge Planting and Restoration

Hedges provide highly valued landscape and conservation benefits whilst also having a high practical value as fences and shelter for stock. They can also provide less obvious benefits, for example as a refuge for pollinating insects.

Currently millions of trees and shrubs are planted every year, often with limited success. Key problems identified in their establishment are inadequate ground preparation, poor plant handling and most crucially a lack of effective weed control. The following documents discuss how to provide the best conditions for the establishment of hedgerows.

Hedge Planting Guidance Sheet.pdf (10 pages, 948kb)
Hedge Planting and Restoration Technical Guidance Sheet 2

Hedge Planting Card.pdf (6 pages, 440kb)
Hedge Planting and Restoration Technical Guidance Card 2

Hedge Trimming

Trimming is the commonest form of hedgerow maintenance and when undertaken correctly is an efficient form of management. However, excessive trimming has been linked to hedgerow dieback and annual trimming greatly reduces the availability of food resources for wildlife. To ensure the continued health of the County's hedges and to enhance their wildlife value, it is recommended that trimming is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines in the following documentation.

Hedge Trimming Card.pdf (4 pages, 261kb)
Hedge Trimming Technical Guidance Card 3

The guidance sheets and cards have been produced with financial assistance from CDENT, County Durham Environmental Trust.