Keeping a rural craft alive and well, AND winning big - two tree surgeons from the Launceston area have been celebrating after taking home a trophy won at a hedgelaying event recently.
Jamie Ranson from Langore and his colleague Benjamin Woods from St Giles-on-the-Heath took part in the Blackdown Hills Hedge Association’s ‘Skills of the Hills’ hedgelaying event last weekend.
The Association is made up of passionate people living in the Blackdown Hills area, who work to promote and preserve the craft of hedgelaying for future generations. Laying hedges, coppicing and trimming are all techniques that manage hedgerows - and down here in Cornwall, we have a lot of ‘em! Basically, these techniques are essential in keeping hedgerows under control and stop them from turning into a line of trees, while preserving them for years to come and promoting regrowth.
With over 70 hedgelayers competing in the event, Jamie and Benjamin competed in the novice pairs class - and won!
With a military background for both Jamie and Benjamin, the pair now dedicate their work to the outdoors, including tree management, hedgetrimming, wood chipping and garden clearance, grass cutting and garden maintenance, on-site milling, log-splitting and, of course, hedgelaying - amongst other services.
The pair work locally and aim to maintain hedges in the traditional way, as they have been for generations, and to help keep the rural craft alive in north Cornwall and west Devon.
Jamie, who runs his business Langore Tree Services, said: “Both Ben and I are extremely proud of what we achieved at the weekend - two hedgelayers from Lanson taking on the wealth of knowledge and experience in east Devon on the Blackdowns, and coming out on top!
“It validates the hedging work we do locally in helping to manage the beautiful landscape that we are so lucky to live in.”
If you’d like some help in your garden or outdoor space, visit Jamie’s business, Langore Tree Services, on https://langoretreeservices.co.uk/. Alternatively, give Jamie a call on 07900 012 642 or visit his Facebook page.