An annual Countryside competition has marked 2024 surrounded by views of the Vale of Clwyd.
This year saw the Denbighshire Countryside Services hedgelaying competition take place on the Clwydian Range above Ruthin.
Nearly 40 participants including volunteers, took part in the competition which was held on land with permission of the landowner, just below Pen Barras car park, overlooking Ruthin.
In addition to the volunteers taking part, there was also a staff category that included entries from Keep Wales Tidy, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Flintshire County Council and Wirral conservation volunteers and teams from Denbighshire’s various countryside areas, together laying a total of 104 metres of hedgerow
Denbighshire’s Countryside Service regularly with volunteers, lays hedges right throughout the county to support local nature.
Rangers and volunteers carry out hedge laying to rejuvenate the hedgerows by partially cutting and laying the stems at an angle to encourage regrowth and fill gaps in the hedge.
This traditional skill was widely use by farmers and landowners as part of their winter boundary management. Mechanical hedgerow maintenance then took over, but studies have shown how much more effective this older method is for the much-needed regeneration of hedgerows.
As the hedges become fresher and younger in appearance, this technique also allows the hedgerow base to thicken providing a denser habitat for biodiversity to thrive.
The results are included below:
Volunteers:
- 1st Ed and Huw (Denbighshire Vols)
- 2nd Roger and Tery (Denbighshire Vols)
- 3rd Pete and Peter (WCV)
Staff:
- 1st Sasha and Rich (DCC)
- 2nd Adrian and Gwyl (FCC & KWT)
- 3rd Vitor and Matt (DCC) joint with Phil Lewis (Smithy farm)
Senior Ranger Jim Kilpatrick said: “This has been a great location to celebrate our tenth hedgelaying event, everyone who attended has done a cracking job during a real competitive and fun day. The end results look amazing and will help improve biodiversity in this part of the Clwydian Range.
“Not only the event but the countryside service as a whole is summed up nicely by the trophies handed out our prize winners on the day.
“These were hand crafted by one of our most committed volunteers, Steve not only comes out to around three to four volunteers events every week without fail but also took the time to make these free of charge using wood coppiced from site during volunteer activities and hand stitching hedging mits and setting them next to a miniature bill hook all for the pleasure of the competitors lucky enough to win them.
“With all the large scale projects we are involved with still some of the most uplifting parts of the job are seeing a local community member not only giving so much but also benefiting massively from what the service offers.”
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and Biodiversity Champion said: “Hedgerows are essential habitats for our local wildlife, and the end results of this fantastic competition in a great location will make such a big difference to the role this site carries out for supporting nature. Well done to the winners and to everyone who took part for helping keep alive a brilliant old countryside skill that brings massive benefits to the land and biodiversity.”