Hedge
Steeping / Laying
Most of Devon’s hedges take the form of hedge banks (a stone or turf faced bank with a living hedge on top) and so the county has developed a unique style of hedge steeping.
The Devon style of hedge steeping involves partially cutting through living saplings near ground (bank) level and bending them over to lay flat along the hedge bank.
The ’steepers’ are laid in two combs and staked into place to form a stockproof boundary and living fence. This form of hedge maintenance not only provides material for other skills but also greatly enhances the environmental benefits to wildlife.
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