Planning a new hedge - some questions I’m trying answer

[goodevans]

Maple and hazel are dreadful to cut .I am amazed no one has mentioned holly as an inclusion as makes by far the best hedge for livestock and blackthorn does lead to sloe gin so a must

 

[matthew]

We've done a few mixed native hedges including holly as well. Looks great with the beech saplings. We found a wind break mesh was useful too, to protect the hedge for a few years. Definitely protect both sides from cattle / sheeps until well established - and even after that.

 

[dt995]

Given every time a sheep is lame "thorn in hoof" is an option, why is everything hawthorn and blackthorn? Just because they sucker so readily they outweight any "thorn in hoof" possibilities?

 

[neilo]

Given every time a sheep is lame "thorn in hoof" is an option, why is everything hawthorn and blackthorn? Just because they sucker so readily they outweight any "thorn in hoof" possibilities?

It might be ‘an option’, but I couldn’t count on one hand, the number of times in my lifetime that lameness has been caused by a thorn. Always had plenty of hedges around wherever i’ve Farmed sheep too.

 

[neilo]

Maple and hazel are dreadful to cut .I am amazed no one has mentioned holly as an inclusion as makes by far the best hedge for livestock and blackthorn does lead to sloe gin so a must

I like a holly hedge, which i’d Never encountered until I moved here. Very dense and great shelter in the winter when leaves have dropped off a lot of other species. I put a few plants in the mix, but they are very expensive in comparison to thorn and incredibly slow growing.

 

[Chasingmytail]

All supplies on the net do a mixed native hedge mix add some bits life you want like holly or rose. Most tell you the amount of plants you need per meter depending on the distance We have double fenced all of it. We did a lot through advanced glastir (welsh scheme).

 

[Chasingmytail]