The Association comprises an enthusiastic group of people working and living on the Blackdown Hills who are dedicated to preserving the craft of hedgelaying
and other related skills in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The aim of the Association is to do their utmost to preserve the rural skills associated with hedgerows.
We do this by running training courses in hedgelaying and hedgerow crafts, attending local fairs and agricultural shows with a stand and demonstrations, and staging
the "Skills of the Hills" annual event.
The members of the BHHA regularly take part in hedgelaying competitions both in the South West and nationally.
One of our main activities during the winter season is running courses teaching the Devon style of hedgelaying. The BHHA course
is rightly celebrated as being one of the most "hands-on" courses you can go on with one experienced tutor to each pair of students laying their own section of hedge.
For more details and a schedule of next season's courses see the hedgelaying course pages.
Our craft courses and workshops are aimed at promoting and educating people about rural skills and crafts using materials from the hedgerow. We have
courses on making hedgerow chairs, hazel hurdles, and various types of traditional baskets. More information and course dates are on the craft courses page.
"Skills of the Hills"
The highlight of the year is our annual "Skills of the Hills" event. It includes one of the largest hedgelaying competitions in the country together
with craft demonstrations, entertainment, and food & drink.
This season it was due to take place in early March. Unfortunately the weather intervened and the main part of the event had to be cancelled. Undaunted,
the hedgelayers turned out a couple of weeks later to hold a competition on the site but without the general public and other attractions that make it a unique occasion.
The event page shows the results of the competition and some photographs taken on the day.
Let's hope for some better weather in early 2015.