How can farmers best care for the UK's 400,000 miles of hedgerow? In this episode Neil attends Wiltshire's 'Hedgefest' to find out from self-confessed hedgerow ‘geek’ MEGAN GIMBER from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species why now is a great time for more farmers to take up the historical process of hedgelaying. He then meets farming couple and Hedgefest hosts CHRIS and LINDSAY RUMMING to explore their farm.

Listen and you’ll hear: how hedgelaying works and why it’s useful (0m40s); why a variety of species is so important to a good hedge (4m15s); what excites Megan about hedges (6m50s); the unique, historical importance of Devon’s hedges (8m50s); other ways to manage hedges (11m30s); what Megan’s job involves (13m40s); Neil meets the farmers hosting Hedgefest (17m15s); and Neil’s true feelings about sheep (26m36s)!

This conversation was recorded in October 2024.

Follow Megan on X here

Visit Chris and Lindsay’s online farm shop here: lydiardturkeys.co.uk

This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

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Hedgelaying at the UK’s first-of-its-kind Hedgefest