Hedge on a Local Rewilding Project
Local Rewilding Project
Yesterday, I was out on a farm and rewilding project here in the South Hams. We were tackling a boundary that was seriously heavy going. As you can see in the photo, this was a very tall, dense hedge sitting right on the line between a heavy agricultural boundary and a practical driveway entrance.
Local Rewilding Project
🌿 Narrowing It Down When an agricultural hedge borders a driveway, you have to balance access with the ecosystem. The hedge had grown so tall and wide that it was encroaching on the drive.
Hard-cutting: We cut the heavy growth back to shape it and narrow it right down.
Restoring access: This instantly opened up the space, making the driveway accessible for vehicles again.
Maintaining the corridor: We left a healthy, solid structure that will continue to act as a vital wildlife corridor for the farm.
🦋 Rewilding & Eco-Gardening: Redistributing the Waste Rather than hauling all the green waste away, we took an approach better suited to a rewilding environment.
Bulking the boundary: We redistributed the cut branches and trimmings back into the base and gaps of the existing hedge.
Creating habitat: By carefully laying and weaving the waste back into the structure, we bulked up the boundary to keep that authentic agricultural look while providing immediate shelter and habitat for local wildlife.
🤫 Quiet Technology in Action Tackling heavy, tall growth usually involves hours of roaring petrol engines and exhaust fumes. At Totnes Gardening, I do things differently.
Battery-powered: I used my professional battery-powered long-reach trimmers to handle the heavy reduction.
Zero noise pollution: They provide all the cutting power needed for an agricultural-style cut, but without the noise and fumes.
Wildlife friendly: Because the equipment is so quiet, I actually had local birds hopping about in the branches nearby while I was cutting, completely unfazed by the work.
