Page 16 - Free State Spring 2023_WEB

IT'S TIME FOR SHARING (Continued) shows a significant difference in
development and intended use.

Hedges Types
Hedge types have been named
and described to show how
they are established. American
travelers to Europe often return
to establish hedges in their
landscapes.

Quickset Hedge The term
quickset first appears in writings
in 1484 and refers to individual
plants of Hawthorn planted
directly into the soil to form a thick
Photo courtesy of Quickhedge.nl barrier. Quickset does not refer to
the speed with which the hedge is
animals. Most hedges in Ireland date from the 1700’s and formed but rather that it is formed
the Agricultural Revolution and Enclosures Acts of the using live (quick) cuttings.
1800’s. However, some sources claim hedgerows in Ireland • Devon Hedge A Devon hedge is a formed earth bank
go back to pre-Christian times. In the UK, hedgerows topped with plants.
are such an important part of the landscape, that the
Hedgerow Regulation of 1997 was passed to prevent the • Cornish Hedge A Cornish hedge is formed with stone
removal or destruction of most hedgerows. and earth topped with grass or trees when a windbreak
is desired. Some were very durable structures and for
New hedgerows are still being built in the US and Europe. example, impeded the Allies when invading France at
They can be started with a single species, e.g., European Normandy during WWII.
buckthorn, and then other species are permitted to
volunteer in and alongside the single species hedge. Or • Instant Hedge These started appearing in the early
they can be purposely planted with a variety of trees, 1900’s and were assembled by planting individual
shrubs, and other perennial or self-sowing plants. elements of at least 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) in height.

Hedges There are some significant hedges around the world.
During my last trip to Europe in 2013 to visit nurseries, The Inland Customs Line
I discovered HEDGES!! We visited QuickHedge in The The Inland Customs Line, or the Indian Salt Hedge,
Netherlands. They intentionally grow finished hedges incorporating the Great Hedge of India was a customs
for residential and commercial
properties throughout Europe.
The visit inspired me to consider
doing the same. And we have.
This article is not intended to
promote our hedges, although
I will touch on them briefly. My
objective here is to share what I
have focused on to learn about
the history of hedgerows and
hedges. Sometimes the terms
hedgerow and hedge are used
interchangeably. Yet the research A new hedge being established in Europe.

16 SPRING 2023 • Free State News