Building Hedges

A better way of rolling out high tensile wire

Its been a while since my fencing techniques were put to the test, last year in Littleworth woods,  but today they would be severely tested for the days sizeable construction task. True Mike would be there to provide the expertise and experience. The job to be done was to create 2 new hedges near to Sandy Hill copse, each 100M in length and each requiring 2 rows of poles forming one long, narrow rectangle for framing the hedges. The hedge plants would be planted in between the 2 fence lines and protected by 3.5 feet wide chicken fencing fixed to 2 lines of high tensile wire. On the positive side Mike with tractor had cleared the area for the 2 hedges earlier in the week, fixed the 4 end straining posts and had the essential fencing tools to make the task easier. This included the 'ancient wheel' for rolling out the tensile wire plus a new monkey strainer and pig ring gun. The pole saw and chain saw were also part of an extensive tool set and needed to clear some overhanging branches from the fence line. The rest of the tools comprised of the metal bar, Drival, spade, axe, chisel,   staples, hammers, tamper, farmers boy and wire cutters. Seventy poles and 2 rolls of chicken wire completed the materials required.

Hedge 1 posts fixed and one side of the fencing almost done

In spite of the positive elements helping this work there was no escaping the physical endeavour needed to fix into the reasonably receptive ground some 60 posts, which by the end of the day tested our power reserves and the ability to lift the heavy Drival needed to drive the posts deep enough into the ground. It was with some satisfaction that we had fixed about half of the chicken fencing to the 'installed' fence posts for the first hedge by close of play. The hedge planting, completion of the chicken fencing plus hedge 2 would have to wait for next weeks all out attack. Biassed I know but we were both pleased with the progress made and a pretty good standard bit of fencing achieved. The new monkey strainer & pig ring gun also proved to be an improvement over the older versions used in the past and the ancient wheel was a big improvement on hauling around the heavy coil of high tensile wire.