The great majority of West Country hedges have never been managed by laying. Throughout the South West the bank dominates the hedge, if in fact there is much of a living hedge at all. As on Irish ‘ditches’, gorse is the most useful plant in very exposed situations, particularly near the coast where other species are battered and stunted by the salt wind. Elsewhere, briar forms a dense crown on the bank, but in protected locations, and as one moves eastwards, the banks are topped by a luxuriant growth of beech or mixed shrubs. It is in these areas of north east Devon, western Somerset and Dorset, that laid hedges can be found.
These hedges are similar to the South Wales flying hedge. Wind rather than snow or cold is the major hazard to hedges in both areas. The sheep are relatively docile and the banks serve to protect the living hedge, as much as to form a barrier in themselves.
In north and east Devon and around Exmoor, hedge laying is called ‘stooping’ or ‘steeping’. First the ditch next to the hedge is dug out. Then the bank is turfed, as described in the next chapter, and finally the hedge is ‘stooped’ along the top or ‘comb’ of the bank. The stems are usually laid both ways from the stools, criss-crossing each other to form a dense, rectangular mass. ‘Steeping’ is the term used in south Devon. Here it is considered best, if possible, to lay all in one direction, either up the slope or from east to west, with the sun. This operation is carried out on both sides of the hedge. The brushy ends of the steepers are angled outwards and the height of the steeping is about 1’ (300mm). Steepers are held in position either with crooks, or by locking the top of each steeper under the stool end of the next steeper in line. See here for an example of a Devon hedge.
