interesting, but hedges weren't initially devised to keep in sheep. As far as I understand the hedges in Britain were of Roman origin. And if the Romans brought it over, then it was for a military purpose: defilade. An obstruction used to inhibit an enemie's ability to project force from any direction. Figure the Romans could move into a brushy area. And with a couple hundred troops and camp-followers, construct a perimeter hedge in a matter of hours to serve as a temporary protective barrier during the construction of a proper fort-wall. Even for a temporary camp on the march, it would make sense to lay as much perimeter as possible to reduce exposure and funnel any attackers into specific vectors. As these camps were abandoned, it's probable that native Britons either moved into them and maintained the hedgework and they evolved into communal centers, or simply adapted the defensive structures back at their tribal commune. After studying hedge-laying for the last few years, I came across a photo of a hedge spanning a length of a castle exterior and its surrounding village, and it's from that photo that I base my theory. The hedge is like 8 feet wide and round-over trimmed to chest height. It was so dense with shoots and old growth that it looked like a nail bed. Its intent is self-evident: to exclude humans. While it is generally impenetrable, it's obiviously not perfect but still, there's simply no way some rabble of forest bandits or opposing tribe would get through it safely, silently, or without drawing attention or exposing themselves. Remember, barricades don't have to be 100% exclusionary, they just have to make negotiating that area more trouble than it's worth. I think the idea of using them to corral animals just naturally evolved out of having used them as defensive barriers for themselves. Either once the population got too big, or the idea to separate man from beast came about, the solution was very apparent. Make another hedge enclosure for the animals. As the need to pen the animals increased and the need to use natural protective measures on the main house decreased I think the true nature of these structures got lost.
Maxdecphoenix ... Thanks. Sounds quite plausible. Nicely written. If I'm getting this right, trees would eventually grow up in rows through the hedges, probably because acorns etc would sprout up? Also I'm imagining birds and rats etc, taking shelter in the hedges, and their poop would have lots of seeds in it from berries, etc.
I believe hedges are older than the romans. Your theory about them being a defensive blockade is also probably right, they are amazing at that and there are multiple accounts from the Middle Ages of hedges being used for the purpose. I think they were probably first used for multiple reasons, as a barrier for cattle etc, a boundary, a defensive barrier. If in the right place then it could be all three in one, like around a settlement etc. I enjoyed reading your comment, as a fellow hedge layer and someone who loves countryside crafts it’s great to have these sorts of discussions with like minded people. Take care
@@spencersanderson1894 oh they certainly predate rome, but i was speaking specifically about their popularization in the UK (and somewhat in Germania)
@@freebornjohn2687 say your hedglaying on a bank how would you kneel down to start the saw also your wearing chainsaw trousers doubtful a saw will get through those
@@bearwoodcraft3591 i first stated tree surgery 82 , chainsaw trousers didnt exist , and if you were topping the tree you had a topping chainsaw which you drop started, , in the summer we wore shorts n tshirts ,no gloves helmets everyone drop started , no saying it was safe but nobody lost any fingers
I'm not getting how a hedge could be "shelters" for animals. I guess they mean a fence or barrier. Anyone from Devon named Pickard out there ? Especially if from Parkham.
wind breaks and cozy areas to bed down. depending on how thick the hedge is, it could also be a sun and rain cover if thick enough is my guess. Some times also I think hedges had small keeps for livestock built into them. But all a good guess.
It's always good listening to these old blokes.
interesting, but hedges weren't initially devised to keep in sheep. As far as I understand the hedges in Britain were of Roman origin. And if the Romans brought it over, then it was for a military purpose: defilade. An obstruction used to inhibit an enemie's ability to project force from any direction. Figure the Romans could move into a brushy area. And with a couple hundred troops and camp-followers, construct a perimeter hedge in a matter of hours to serve as a temporary protective barrier during the construction of a proper fort-wall.
Even for a temporary camp on the march, it would make sense to lay as much perimeter as possible to reduce exposure and funnel any attackers into specific vectors.
As these camps were abandoned, it's probable that native Britons either moved into them and maintained the hedgework and they evolved into communal centers, or simply adapted the defensive structures back at their tribal commune.
After studying hedge-laying for the last few years, I came across a photo of a hedge spanning a length of a castle exterior and its surrounding village, and it's from that photo that I base my theory. The hedge is like 8 feet wide and round-over trimmed to chest height. It was so dense with shoots and old growth that it looked like a nail bed. Its intent is self-evident: to exclude humans. While it is generally impenetrable, it's obiviously not perfect but still, there's simply no way some rabble of forest bandits or opposing tribe would get through it safely, silently, or without drawing attention or exposing themselves. Remember, barricades don't have to be 100% exclusionary, they just have to make negotiating that area more trouble than it's worth.
I think the idea of using them to corral animals just naturally evolved out of having used them as defensive barriers for themselves. Either once the population got too big, or the idea to separate man from beast came about, the solution was very apparent. Make another hedge enclosure for the animals. As the need to pen the animals increased and the need to use natural protective measures on the main house decreased I think the true nature of these structures got lost.
Maxdecphoenix ... Thanks. Sounds
quite plausible. Nicely written. If I'm getting this right, trees would eventually grow up in rows through the hedges, probably because acorns etc would sprout up? Also I'm imagining birds and rats etc, taking shelter in the hedges, and their poop would have lots of seeds in it from berries, etc.
I believe hedges are older than the romans. Your theory about them being a defensive blockade is also probably right, they are amazing at that and there are multiple accounts from the Middle Ages of hedges being used for the purpose. I think they were probably first used for multiple reasons, as a barrier for cattle etc, a boundary, a defensive barrier. If in the right place then it could be all three in one, like around a settlement etc. I enjoyed reading your comment, as a fellow hedge layer and someone who loves countryside crafts it’s great to have these sorts of discussions with like minded people. Take care
@@spencersanderson1894 oh they certainly predate rome, but i was speaking specifically about their popularization in the UK (and somewhat in Germania)
Drop starting chainsaws is not good practice but otherwise a good video with useful insights
If your working it’s how you do it tho
@@bearwoodcraft3591 Not if you want to keep your legs
@@freebornjohn2687 say your hedglaying on a bank how would you kneel down to start the saw also your wearing chainsaw trousers doubtful a saw will get through those
@@bearwoodcraft3591 i first stated tree surgery 82 , chainsaw trousers didnt exist , and if you were topping the tree you had a topping chainsaw which you drop started, , in the summer we wore shorts n tshirts ,no gloves helmets everyone drop started , no saying it was safe but nobody lost any fingers
@@charliecroker6445 yes but you actually worked and know how it is many arm chair experts don’t know how it is in the real world
I'm not getting how a hedge could be "shelters" for animals. I guess they mean a fence or barrier. Anyone from Devon named Pickard out there ? Especially if
from Parkham.
wind breaks and cozy areas to bed down. depending on how thick the hedge is, it could also be a sun and rain cover if thick enough is my guess. Some times also I think hedges had small keeps for livestock built into them. But all a good guess.
Goverment. 🍋🍋🍋🦃🦃🦃👎👎👎🤡🤡🤡🤡