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Hurdles 

A different type of path edging is being tried in the Wood. 

New hazel hurdles on the path down to the tunnel.

Making hurdles is an old woodland craft. Volunteers in the Wood have been coppicing hazel and using the cut material to make hurdles. These are being used as edging for the main path coming down from Crescent Wood Road to the old railway path. They are a pleasing alternative to dead-hedging and given the restricted space available, they fit the purpose well. 

The process involves driving hazel stakes in the ground at around 50cm intervals. Long lengths of hazel are split lengthways to provide the material to fill in the gaps.  Splitting the hazel makes it more flexible and easier to weave in and out of the stakes. Hurdles can also be made as panels by using a wooden base into which the stakes are fixed. The split hazel is woven in and out of the stakes and when the planet is complete, the vertical stakes are removed from the base. This method could be used for gardens but in the Wood, it is sufficient to drive the stakes straight into the ground. 


The hurdle has the advantage of being shaped to fit the contours of the land, as can be seen in the photo above. Its narrow footprint means that is has minimal effect on ground cover, whereas a dead-hedge would smother any plants beneath it. 

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