Its been a bit all over the place this past week at Gortnalee. The farmer next door had the hedge that forms our boundary cut back a few weeks ago and it was clear that the hedge had been completely destroyed by brambles. Last year we had a situation where two of the original blackthorns broke off at the root – they were competely dead. Most of the other original blackthorns were also failing.
 |
| Puss kept a close eye on the digger man |
There was nothing to be done to revive hedge plants over 100 years old! The farmer decided to remove the whole hedge and the bank replacing it with a stock-proof fence instead. I am really ambivelant about it all. The hedgerow was such a haven for wildlife even if it was a nightmare to manage.
In some ways it feels like how the garden was when we first came here – the wind whistling through and the whole place feeling really open and bare. However, it is only one side of the garden – the rest of it is unchanged. I have already planted the boundary now all I need is the patience to wait for the new shrubs to grow.
I have extended the Laurel hedge down past the seating area we call the Coffee Corner so that it will once more be a sheltered spot to sit with the best view of the garden – it will just take a while! The rest of the boundary border is Escalonias that I tried to grow there when the hedgerow was behind them and they are already looking happier to have space and air!
The lower garden is still a work-in-progress but already I am making plans ….
And there was I thinkg the garden was NEARLY finished ……..
Gortnalee Garden Blog 
The laurel hedge at the front is already a decent height and I'll bring laurel down far enough to give me privacy – and then continue on with some shrubs. The escalonia I planted along the boundary are already showing signs of life. They are about 3 feet tall so I'm hoping they will bulk up quickly. I have plans for the lower garden now that the boardwalk has been replaced so I just have to concentrate on the new areas and keep my back to the wide open spaces!!!!
LikeLike
Hi Paddy – We discussed it and it really was beyond saving. It was nearly 5 metres wide of brambles with an occasional stump of the original blackthorn. He offered to replace it with another thorny nightmare so we agreed I would grow a hedge on my side and he would erect and maintain the fence. I already have a mature laurel hedge at the front. Not best for the wildlife but giving me privacy from the newly built two storey house beyond the narrow field section. I also had an issue with rainwater stopping at the bank so it is solving another problem for me.
LikeLike
Gosh Hazel that was a big issue to have to deal with. How long do you reckon it will take your newly planted shrubs to grow to the size you want in that area?
LikeLike
I am surprised that your neighbour could remove the boundary hedging. Was it by agreement? Removal of farmland boundary hedges/ditches is not permitted – certainly, our neighbour had to plant replacement hedging when he removed a stretch here.
LikeLike