HEDGING SKILLS A SAFE BET

By County Press Reporter - Wednesday, March 3, 2004

Dave Hollis at the IW Hedgelaying Competition on Saturday. Picture by PETER BOAM.

By Jon Moreno
CHILLY hand-numbing conditions did not deter hardy hedge layers from creating impressive stock-proof hedges in the 12th annual IW Hedgelaying Competition in the fields at Cox's Corner, Whitecroft, on Saturday.
Godshill man Dick Pulleine, who runs his own coppicing business, impressed the judges to repeat last year's success in the open class and scoop the W. Hurst & Son Cup and claim his fifth success since the competition began in 1993.
Although entry numbers were a little down on last year, the competition proved there was still some life in the ancient rural art of hedge laying on the Island and judges again had their work cut out.
John Kingswell, an experienced judge, had a tricky day assessing entries in open and novice sections.
The competition was jointly run by the IW Council's countryside section and Brighstone-based Landscape Therapy. There was a marquee with hedge laying and coppice tools displayed by Ralph Griffin, of Newbarn Road, East Cowes.
Organiser Matthew Chatfield, of the council's countryside section, said: "Interest in the art of hedge laying is certainly growing and we have the best of the crop in this competition."
Results in the Friday, March 5, edition of the County Press.

HEDGING SKILLS A SAFE BET

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