After a drizzly start the sun shone on the Wyre and Myerscough Hedgelaying Competition last weekend at Cote Walls Farm, Preesall, Lancashire.



Part of a series of six competitions organised under the banner and coordination of the Lancashire and Westmorland Hedgelaying Association Grand Prix, the competition took place on Saturday 17 February and was hosted by local farmer Peter Taylor.

The competition is organised by Wyre Council’s coast and countryside rangers with support from Myerscough College. On the day there were 11 competitors in four classes – open class, novice class, junior class and championship class.

Volunteers from Wyre and across Lancashire have recently benefitted from training by The Forest of Bowland AONB and the Lancashire and Westmorland Hedgelaying Association that taught the traditional skill of Lancashire and Westmorland style of hedgelaying. The competition is a celebration of this skill and promotes the best ways to manage hedges in Lancashire that are good for wildlife and for the landscape.

The top three positions in each class were as follows:

Open Class

William Bell
John Gibson
John Handley
Novice Class

Aidan Handley
Danny Hodgson
Sally Capewell
Junior Class

James Yates-Bell
James Dodgeson
Championship Class

Peter Gibson
Andrew Kirkwood
Heather Swift
Best Overall Hedger

Peter Gibson
Best Summer Re-growth from 2017

Andrew Kirkwood
Winner of Samuri Saw for Young Hedgers

James Yates-Bell