What is the Pembrokeshire Style?
I've been unable to find more than a limited number of written resources (books, articles, or websites) on the Pembrokeshire style of hedgelaying. What follows is based on, the information I could locate, nuggets gleaned from chatting with other hedgelayers, and my own interpretation of old traditions formed through experience. As such, this is very much my own understanding of the Pembrokeshire style, and why I believe it took shape in the way it did. I envisage refining these passages, and I'd be interested to hear from anyone with alternative knowledge or insight
There are a few different names for the act of hedgelaying in Wales, the term I'm familiar with in Pembrokeshire is plashing.
Watch out! low flying hedge
The Pembrokeshire style is what's known as a flying hedge, a low hedge laid on a bank (An earthwork on which a hedge is grown). The "flying" refers to low laid stems with branches protruding out towards the field. This over-arching style is common in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and the Gower.
I believe historically, the earth banks themselves would have been the primary livestock deterrent, with the thorny flying hedge deterring adventurous animals from climbing over, as well protection against browsing the regrowth. I suspect that many banks in Pembrokeshire have reduced in height over time, and my understanding is that the bank, its batter (The sloped sides of the bank) and any associated ditches would once have been maintained alongside the hedgelaying process.
Keep those cuts covered
One of the first nuances of the style I discovered was protection of fresh cuts resulting from the hedgelaying process. These are referred to as "white". Unnecessarily visible white on a competition hedge would result in a penalty. This doesn't seem as prevalent in modern competitions, but after discussing it with a veteran hedgelayer, I came to see this as a key element to longevity
It would appear that this approach developed to ensure fresh cuts were protected from salty coastal air where possible, and that visible white was therefore undesirable. If white could be seen then it was also exposed to the elements. Staked styles leave cuts very much on display to expose them to sunlight for regrowth promotion. I discussed this theory with another hedgelayer who works in the Gower. He had seen a staked style applied on the Gower coast and within a year or two, the hedge was all but dead. His conclusion was that exposure of the cuts to salty coastal winds was the cause.
Keeping it together
In windy and exposed locations how do we maintain the integrity of the hedge?
A hedge laid in the Pembrokeshire style is squat and compact. This lowers the profile, and its more rounded shape lets the wind pass over it, while its less rigid and more springy nature allows it to roll with the punches
Another practice that helps maintain structure in windy conditions is laying the hedge with the prevailing wind, where practical. A slight downward gradient is tolerated to achieve this, particularly in exposed locations
Furthermore the skill in selecting and managing the thorny elements, ensuring there's enough material to weave and lock into a consistent barrier is essential. Crooks can be used secure stems. Crooks are bits of wood selected from the hedge that the layer is able to fashion into large tent-peg like objects for hammering into the ground over the stem. I've used them myself, but I'm led to believe this was historically frowned upon and would once have resulted in point deductions in competitions
I'm not sure why this is, maybe crooks were seen as a sign of limited craftsmanship or maybe the rigidity they introduced was detrimental in some way. I do not tend to require them with a full thorny hedge. However, where hedges are gappy or dominated by thornless species such as hazel, I view them as necessary due to the lack of thorny material to lock the structure together against the wind
How low is low enough?
The angle between the laid stem and the earth bank is another much discussed element of hedgelaying styles. I've seen some angles attributed to the Pembrokeshire style, in my experience, the integrity matters more than adherence to an angle.
As long as stems are laid low enough to prevent gaps, the hedge will function as intended. Gaps low down would have invited livestock to burrow in and weaken the hedge. While fencing is often relied upon today for stock-proofing I believe it's still good practice to lay a hedge that would resist the more nefarious attentions of livestock, even if its simply to maintain the craft.
To dead hedge or not
Dead hedging, is the reinsertion of material cleared out, into the hedge to strengthen weak spots and create uniformity. I am not aware of any specific traditions around this in the Pembrokeshire style.
Dead hedging is something I've performed in the past but less inclined to now. I will consider it for protecting the white on exposed sites or on gappy hedges that are not being replanted. I find dead material can inhibit regrowth. Furthermore, it tends to stick out like a sore thumb once the hedge greens up
No stakes involved
Stakes are similar to posts banged into the ground vertically or at slight angles. In some style these provide strength and structure. As mentioned earlier, stakes aren't used in this style. I believe the primary reason for this is the presence of the bank as the primary deterrent
It's also simply easier and safer to lay a stakeless hedge on a bank. I've done both, and there were times that I didn't enjoy perching on a bank while hammering in stakes one bit. In the modern world of risk assessments, a flying hedge on a bank is a lower risk approach.
And finally, why source additional materials, increasing the cost and time, if the infrastructure doesn't require them?
Pembrokeshire style, through my eyes
Hedgelaying has gained a lot of recognition for its contribution to conservation, and I feel the Pembrokeshire style lends itself particularly well to this. Its bushy form makes good nesting habitat for birds, and its broader footprint gives excellent cover for wildlife moving at ground level, acting as a corridor through the landscape.
My understanding and appreciation of this style is drawn from what I've seen in the landscape, what I've been shown by others, and what has made sense through experience. It's not intended as a definitive account, but as one interpretation of a style that is beautifully practical, relevant and adapted for its environment. I'd be genuinely interested to hear from anyone with different experiences or knowledge of how it's been practised.