LANDOWNERS and farmers in West Devon are being invited to enter this year?s Devon Hedge Competition which, as well as the usual Best Laid Hedge category, this year there is a new Best New Laid Hedge class. The new class has been introduced because a greater length of hedge is now being put back into the landscape rather than being removed through development and agricultural intensification. ?Different landowners use different techniques to create new Devon hedges,? said Tom Hynes of the Devon Hedge Group. ?It is hoped that by introducing this new class some useful lessons will be learned about the best techniques for effective hedge creation.? Since the Second World War, many hedges have been removed, though the amount in Devon is less than in most other counties. There are now good financial incentives to replace lost hedges. Elsewhere in the country the process of planting a new hedge is comparatively straightforward because the planting is at ground level. In Devon, hedge planting also involves creation of a new bank so the process is not so simple. However, a lot of high quality hedge laying goes on around the county and more and more contractors are setting up to carry out this ancient country craft. Peter Chamberlain, Devon County Council?s ecologist, said:?The Devon Hedge Group is currently working on putting together a list of hedge laying contractors around the county. ?This should make it easy for everyone to find a local contractor who can do this kind of skilled work and should encourage farmers and landowners to restore overgrown hedges rather than letting them outgrow their strength.? The closing date for entries is March 31. Entry forms are available from Devon FWAG, Estuary House, Peninsula Park, Rydon Lane, Exeter EX2 7XE, telephone 01392 352012, or forms can be downloaded at http://www.devon.gov.uk/hedges">www.devon.gov.uk/hedges
