Its been a bit all over the place this past week at Gortnalee. The farmer next door had the hedge that forms our boundary cut back a few weeks ago and it was clear that the hedge had been completely destroyed by brambles. Last year we had a situation where two of the original blackthorns broke off at the root - they were competely dead. Most of the other original blackthorns were also failing.
There was nothing to be done to revive hedge plants over 100 years old! The farmer decided to remove the whole hedge and the bank replacing it with a stock-proof fence instead. I am really ambivelant about it all. The hedgerow was such a haven for wildlife even if it was a nightmare to manage. 
Puss kept a close eye on the digger man
And there was I thinkg the garden was NEARLY finished ........
I am surprised that your neighbour could remove the boundary hedging. Was it by agreement? Removal of farmland boundary hedges/ditches is not permitted - certainly, our neighbour had to plant replacement hedging when he removed a stretch here.
ReplyDeleteHi Paddy - We discussed it and it really was beyond saving. It was nearly 5 metres wide of brambles with an occasional stump of the original blackthorn. He offered to replace it with another thorny nightmare so we agreed I would grow a hedge on my side and he would erect and maintain the fence. I already have a mature laurel hedge at the front. Not best for the wildlife but giving me privacy from the newly built two storey house beyond the narrow field section. I also had an issue with rainwater stopping at the bank so it is solving another problem for me.
DeleteGosh Hazel that was a big issue to have to deal with. How long do you reckon it will take your newly planted shrubs to grow to the size you want in that area?
ReplyDeleteThe laurel hedge at the front is already a decent height and I'll bring laurel down far enough to give me privacy - and then continue on with some shrubs. The escalonia I planted along the boundary are already showing signs of life. They are about 3 feet tall so I'm hoping they will bulk up quickly. I have plans for the lower garden now that the boardwalk has been replaced so I just have to concentrate on the new areas and keep my back to the wide open spaces!!!!
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