Of all the Welsh types, the stake and pleach hedge most closely resembles the Midlands hedge in form. It is a widespread and diverse type with several distinct subdivisions as shown in the table above. Stake and pleach hedging in one form or another is found through north and central Wales as shown in the map. Stake and pleach is used mainly on mixed farms, with double brush used on sheep farms.
Three varieties of stake and pleach are illustrated below.
In stake and pleach hedging, nearly the whole length of each pleacher is woven among the stakes. To do this, keep the staking following on about a metre back of the pleachers. The stakes are driven in a straight line down the middle of the hedgerow, with the pleachers brought into the line of stakes from both sides. This creates a symmetrical hedge, brushy on both sides
Brecon, Powys
Craftsmen in this style tend to cut out all or virtually all of the unwanted material at the beginning of the day’s work, so that only those stems which it is planned to cut and lay are left standing. Only experts should attempt this. Others should approach the job with more caution, to avoid cutting out material which may be needed after all.
The stakes are put in at about 60-70 degrees, angled against the pleachers to lock them in position. Space the stakes so that the top of one stake is directly over the base of the next stake in line, keeping the bases about 21” (530mm) apart.
Weave each pleacher around each stake in line, unless it is too thick near the base to force into this position. This is called ‘bowing’, and it helps to protect from grazing the shoots which will spring from stools further down the line. Weave in the side branches in the same way, cutting them part way through if necessary to angle them back into the hedge. Try to use as many side branches as possible, cutting off only those which are awkward to weave in.
Include sufficient small deadwood into the hedge during the course of laying to make a bulky, solid hedge. Do not use large, pleacher-size stems as deadwood, unless you need them to fill a gap. Bind the top as for the Midlands hedge, and trim the hedge lightly to make it as uniform as possible, and to give it a neat rectangular shape.
Monmouthshire
Place the stakes slightly more upright than in the Brecon style, about 75-80 degrees and 24” (600mm) apart. Weave the pleachers that grow from the near side of the hedge around every pair of stakes. This produces a bowing similar to that of the Breconshire style, but less pronounced. The appearance of the far side is less important, and if the hedge is double brushed the pleachers from that side can be woven in as convenient. Weave in side branches in the same way. Some deadwood is used, but less than in the Brecon style.
Binding is considered unnecessary and most Monmouthshire hedgers do not use it. The angle of the stakes and the weaving serves to hold the pleachers in place. Trim the hedge so that it is neatly rectangular, but thinner than the Brecon style.
Flintshire
Set the stakes nearly vertically, about 18-20” (450-500mm) apart. Weave in the pleachers as convenient. Less trouble is taken to shield the cut stools with other pleachers, in keeping with making a generally ‘thin’ hedge. Do not use deadwood except to fill gaps where pleachers are inadequate. To finish the hedge, even out irregularities in the surface with dead brush, but do not artificially fill out the hedge’s shape. The hedge should be thinner than the two styles described above, with the pleacher stems themselves, not the brush, forming the most obvious part of the barrier. Binding is not used.
