Hedge-laying part-time business, viable?

[Tom_o_m]

Hi All,

My parents recently retired and sold the farm, although it was my mum that ran the farm my dad was hands on.

He's a trained hedge-layer and has won amateur awards, so he has the skills, and it would keep him active; quite frankly he's a bit crap at doing nothing. The question is, do you think there is any real market for hedge-laying? He's in the north Somerset area.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Tom

 

[S J H]

I've 50m to do in bedford if he's interested! I can't find anyone around here.

 

[Slippery Slope]

Plenty making a living out of it down here. Easy enough to put an advert out and find out if there's any work.

He will need an idea of what he wants to charge though, day rate or £/ metre. Not sure what the going rate is.

 

[kill]

I really depends if the farmer keeps the £10 a metre and pays you around that an hour. I use to do alot 10-20 years ago but it's very frustrating when you have only earnt £100 and the farmer takes 2+k and didn't go home stabbed with black Thorne.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

I really depends if the farmer keeps the £10 a metre and pays you around that an hour. I use to do alot 10-20 years ago but it's very frustrating when you have only earnt £100 and the farmer takes 2+k and didn't go home stabbed with black Thorne.

I'd tell the farmer to lay their own bleeding hedge if they they thought £10 an hour would fair

OP definitely work about for half decent hedge layers.

 

[Tom_o_m]

I've 50m to do in bedford if he's interested! I can't find anyone around here.

Many thanks all, encouraging responses.

From speaking with other hedge-layers my dad has learnt that the 'going rate' is anywhere between £10 and £30 per metre. I know it is hard work but unless the hedge is an absolute train wreck to start with and will take double time, we think the higher end is far to steep. £10-15 seems more appropriate.

I'll certainly ask about his willingness to travel to Bedford! SJH , would you cover fuel?

Tom

 

[S J H]

Many thanks all, encouraging responses.

From speaking with other hedge-layers my dad has learnt that the 'going rate' is anywhere between £10 and £30 per metre. I know it is hard work but unless the hedge is an absolute train wreck to start with and will take double time, we think the higher end is far to steep. £10-15 seems more appropriate.

I'll certainly ask about his willingness to travel to Bedford! SJH , would you cover fuel?

Tom

Yes, but not every day.

 

[neilo]

For as long as there is a payment on various environmental schemes for hedgelaying, there will be contract work to be had. Recent noises coming from Gove’s mouth would suggest that those schemes aren’t going away anytime soon.

If those payments ever did stop, I would think work would dry up very quickly though.

£10-30/ metre? Crikey. I’ll have to stick to my very own ‘local’ style I reckon.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Definitely charge by the metre and price according to the condition of the hedge. Last lot we had done was 2012 (Midland Bullock and left to grow ready for laying but not overgrown) at £8/m inc stakes and binders. Most farmers who are getting grant will be paid by the metre. Plenty around here are doing hedgelaying in winter and some do fencing in summer to make a livelihood. Obviously it is very grant driven, but our hedgelayer has done one off jobs in the middle of Nottingham as well! Other than his vehicle, insurance, chainsaw, handtools and protective clothing, few costs that won't be directly recharged and he could take on as much or as little work as he wanted so sounds like a good idea. Get some of his photos of his work put into a facebook page or at least a folder to show folks who enquire.

 

[Henarar]

Hi All,

My parents recently retired and sold the farm, although it was my mum that ran the farm my dad was hands on.

He's a trained hedge-layer and has won amateur awards, so he has the skills, and it would keep him active; quite frankly he's a bit crap at doing nothing. The question is, do you think there is any real market for hedge-laying? He's in the north Somerset area.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Tom

if its anything like around here there is work about but he "may" have to do it a more commercial style
A mate of mine does our hedges and I help when I can, we have found if we chuck them down a bit rough they grow better plus it helps keep the rate lower
rate depends on how "heavy" the hedge is, he looks at the hedge first and quotes a price per metre

 

[Danllan]

For as long as there is a payment on various environmental schemes for hedgelaying, there will be contract work to be had. Recent noises coming from Gove’s mouth would suggest that those schemes aren’t going away anytime soon.

If those payments ever did stop, I would think work would dry up very quickly though.

£10-30/ metre? Crikey. I’ll have to stick to my very own ‘local’ style I reckon.

Around here most of the hedges are on a bank, or a 'dead' wall and the style has always been to cut right down and lay it flat along the top - not as pretty, but much simpler than many styles from elsewhere. Mrs Danllan objects to that if it's close to the house though... I know my place .

 

[Henarar]

Around here most of the hedges are on a bank, or a 'dead' wall and the style has always been to cut right down and lay it flat along the top - not as pretty, but much simpler than many styles from elsewhere. Mrs Danllan objects to that if it's close to the house though... I know my place .

same here most are on a bank so none of this stakes and weaving

 

[neilo]

same here most are on a bank so none of this stakes and weaving

But that always looks so pretty, for the two years anyway. None of them are sheep/hungry cattle proof without a proper fence to protect them anyway.

 

[Henarar]

But that always looks so pretty, for the two years anyway. None of them are sheep/hungry cattle proof without a proper fence to protect them anyway.

well that's no entirely true you could lay a thorn hedge well enough to keep them out, but that don't happen to often you can only lay what is there to be laid

 

[neilo]

well that's no entirely true you could lay a thorn hedge well enough to keep them out, but that don't happen to often you can only lay what is there to be laid

A laid hedge alone won't keep much in for more than a few years unless you run a fairly low stocking rate, or you have something dopey/lazy like Dorsets, who really can't be arsed to bother a hedge I'm informed.

 

[Henarar]

A laid hedge alone won't keep much in for more than a few years unless you run a fairly low stocking rate, or you have something dopey/lazy like Dorsets, who really can't be arsed to bother a hedge I'm informed.

How do you think they use to be keep them in?

 

[neilo]

How do you think they use to be keep them in?

By running far lower stocking rates than we do (have to?) now. Always used to be 'one or two' out too, I seem to remember.

 

[Henarar]

Perhaps they had. More sense

 

[haulmblower]

I've seen this done to keep livestock in

Website here
https://insteading.com/blog/hedge-laying/

 

[nb844]

We always found that without fencing after sheep will eat the buds at the bottom of the hedge. Keep them away from it for the first year or two and it's fine.