Over a hundred competitors travelled from all over the country and overseas,  including the Melplash Agricultural Society’s Ploughing Chairman, Tim Frampton and the Society’s Hedgelaying Chairman, Russell Woodham to compete in the 2023 National Hedgelaying Championship which took place on Saturday 28 October at Stanford Hall, Lutterworth, Leicestershire by kind permission of Mr Nick Fothergill.

Each year the National Championship tests the skills of hedgelayers on ten of the main styles in current use including the Dorset-Style.   There are over thirty different hedgelaying styles altogether across the UK.  Each style has been developed over many years to cope with the climate of the area, different farming practices and the type of trees and shrubs that grow in the hedge.

A Dorset hedge is normally laid on top of a bank.  It is kept low to the bank, tightly woven in with itself.  Thin flexible rods called “bonds” are used to secure it both internally and by hooping over it externally if required.  No crooks or string or wire is used.

The Melplash Agricultural Society has championed, through the Hedgelaying committee, Dorset-Style hedge laying and were instrumental in the style being included in the annual National Championship.  The Society also sponsors the class.

The Dorset-style hedgelaying category this year was won by Tim Frampton with Russell Woodham close behind in 2nd place.

“The Melplash Agricultural Society is totally committed to keeping this traditional skill alive.  We are fortunate to have a number of experts who are only too happy to pass on these traditional skills to others.   For a number of years we have held a free taster day in September prior to the annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing Match to give people the opportunity to learn how to lay a hedge, Dorset Style.   If you fancy the idea of learning, do lookout for training sessions run by committed professionals who practice the skill, then with hard work and dedication and a few hundred meters laid, you too could be competing and winning in the Nationals!”  said Hedgelaying Chairman and Dorset Hedgelayer, Russell Woodham.