Blackdown Hills Hedge Association

Welcome to The Blackdown Hills Hedge Association.

 News 

28th October

The National Hedgelaying Championships took place at Waddesdon Manor on Saturday. Congratulations to Colin Risdon who won the Devon section with Willow Drew second and Martin Turner third. Full results should be posted soon on the NHLS Web site

Hedgelaying Courses: Both the November 9th and December 7th courses are now fully booked but we still have plenty of spaces on January 4th and February 1st.

Craft courses: we only have Hedgerow Chair and Christmas decoration courses formally scheduled this year but if you want to make a hurdle or a splint basket please get in touch - we only need 4 people to make the course viable and we have already had some enquiries from interested people.

30th August

Got the event cookery competition categories sorted...

 Diary 

Sat 7th December

The next BHHA hedgelaying course (now fully booked but spaces are still available on the Jan/Feb 2014 ones).

Sun 9th March 2014

Annual BHHA Skills of the Hills event.

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.

Blackdown Hills AONB Map

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.

Hedgelaying Course

We teach the Devon style of hedgelaying in a very "hands-on" way with one experienced tutor to each pair of students. For more details see the hedgelaying course pages.

Hedgerow Chair Course

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, various baskets and Christmas decorations. More information and course dates are on the craft courses page.

"Skills of the Hills" 2011

The highlight of the year is our annual "The 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 took place on Saturday 9th March 2013.