Monthly Archives: March 2011
Robert Macfarlane on nature writing
This is an old article, from 2003, but still an interesting read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/dec/06/featuresreviews.guardianreview34 I very much like this – ‘duchthas, the Gaelic word that means something like “the sense of belonging in a place” ‘ – it’s a word I … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, The Hedge Philosopher
Hedge nursery rhymes
A couple of nursery rhymes today: There was a man of Newington, And he was wond’rous wise, He jump’d into a quickset hedge, And scratch’d out both his eyes: But when he saw his eyes were out, With all his … Continue reading
Filed under Hedge Politics, Historical Hedges, Literary Hedges
Spring hedges
Nice to see all the hedges coming back to life in the spring: Sunday was an especially lovely day, and I took a few pictures of the garden hedges around my area: I think this is a cherry laurel. It’s … Continue reading
Filed under Everyday Hedges
A Hedge Limerick
Just to lower the tone, today’s second hedge poem is a traditional limerick, not in the best possible taste: There once was a man called Reg Who went with a girl in a hedge Along came his wife With a … Continue reading
Filed under Literary Hedges
The Hedge: as seen by a war poet
John William Streets died on 1st July in the Battle of the Somme. In the period before his death he wrote some memorable poems, frequently contrasting the hell of war with the beauty of nature. In this poem he describes … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Literary Hedges
Hedgerows and pollinators
There’s an interesting article here http://tinyurl.com/6ay4c3o on experiments in America with flowering hedgerows, which are designed to encourage pollinating insects. In this case the hedgerows are areas left to grow a little wild, with flowers for the insects – rather … Continue reading
Filed under Hedges and Biodiversity
Dodie Smith on hedges
A couple of quotes from the wonderful I Capture the Castle: one mentions hedges, the second doesn’t but I’ll include it anyway because it’s rather lovely. “…when I opened my eyes, the fields and the hedges and even the sky … Continue reading
Filed under Literary Hedges
Netherbyres hedges – home for retired gardeners
These hedges are from the 18th-century elliptical walled garden at Netherbyres in East Lothian. The garden is over half a hectare and includes Victorian glasshouses, as well as a wide range of fruit and vegetables, flowers, herbs, climbers, and other … Continue reading
Filed under Everyday Hedges, Historical Hedges
Secret Hedge Cures Cancer
The Daily Mail are clearly fond of their giant hedge stories. Apparently this one is the biggest yew hedge in Britain (though not the tallest*, as that’s the Cirencester one I already posted about.) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-469258/Yewmongous–giant-hedge-yields-600-fund.html I do like the fact … Continue reading
Filed under Everyday Hedges, Notable Hedges
