Hedge, Killington Bridge
Description

Hedge, Killington Bridge MYD36636 (c) YDNPA, 2023
In 1999, the path through the Killington Bridge site was relaid so that people using wheelchairs could have access. The hedgerow alongside most of the path’s length is managed using the traditional method called ‘laying’. The hedge trees are allowed to grow tall stems, and these are then part cut through and bent, or laid, horizontally along the line of the hedge and woven in and out of short upright stakes.
The result is a strong, stock-proof hedge, which will last centuries if properly maintained. This hedge is made up of several different sorts of tree species. Research has shown that the more species there are, the older the hedge may be. This bit of hedge may be hundreds of years old. On the other hand, the variety of species might be due to those that were originally planted in the hedge.