Plygu Gwrych Cefn Gwlad

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-Whenever I think

-about hedge-laying competitions...

-..Berwyn Harding's name is one

-of the first that come to mind.

-I've come to Hafan in Aberangell

-to watch him at work.

-It's a skilful craft,

-and in my view, a special one.

-He's a man who really knows

-how to go about it.

-November 2011

-Hedge-laying

-This isn't an easy hedge,

-is it, Berwyn?

-It falls away from the road.

-It falls away from the road.

-

-That's right.

-I'm trying to keep it upright.

-It's difficult.

-It's very high

-on the lower side.

-Take this part...

-..this trunk you have here.

-You need to retain as much of it

-as possible so that it can regrow.

-That's right.

-From the back, as much as possible.

-This will grow in the middle.

-Once I've trimmed it,

-it won't be so big.

-It won't be possible

-to lay it very low.

-I've laid a part of it - there.

-That will grow, which means

-I can leave that stem alone.

-I see.

-The dead wood will last for a year

-or two to allow new shoots to grow.

-It protects them.

-It's not as important

-for the side facing the road...

-..but on the side

-facing the field...

-..the dead wood

-protects the new growth.

-It makes the hedge less attractive

-to browsing sheep.

-The dead wood has no leaves.

-The dead wood has no leaves.

-

-Sheep are still attracted, though.

-They can weaken young growth.

-Stakes help to reinforce

-the hedge, of course.

-I can lay the hedge

-without using stakes.

-I'll put them in at the end.

-Here, we prefer to put stakes in

-from the back.

-But because this part is so high,

-we lose the line a little.

-I have to put the stakes

-on this side.

-It's an art, like ploughing.

-It's one of mankind's

-earliest crafts.

-With the cost of fences as it is,

-we need to make the most of hedges.

-Hedge cutting machines...

-They ruin hedges.

-They're not so bad

-when used on a properly-laid hedge.

-Well, no.

-A particular style

-is prevalent in this area.

-Every hedge I've seen

-has been quite narrow.

-We're widening them a little.

-Can you explain a little more?

-Hedges have been laid

-with very little dead wood in them.

-That makes a narrow hedge.

-We're widening the hedges a little.

-New growth will come to the top

-and spread out.

-You rely on the material

-that you leave behind...

-..to grow out and spread.

-This was a difficult hedge

-for Berwyn to lay...

-..because the road

-is higher than the field.

-But he managed it.

-It looks a lot bigger

-from the field.

-Yes, a lot bigger.

-It's because the land falls away.

-The road has built up

-over the years...

-..making the hedge appear low.

-How long will you wait before using

-a machine to trim the hedge?

-I don't like using a machine.

-I'll use a sickle for a year or two,

-and trim it lightly.

-I see.

-You don't need to trim the sides

-for quite a while.

-You trim the top

-so it doesn't grow too high.

-What's the correct season

-for hedge-laying?

-This year, the sap has gone down

-but the leaves remain.

-I don't like working

-when there are leaves.

-Parts of the hedge are very leafy.

-We haven't had any frost so far.

-The weather controls everything.

-From November until May, really.

-I used to work

-as a hedge-laying contractor.

-It kept me busy all winter.

-There's an old saying.

-"Hedge-laying in May

-takes twice as much work."

-"Hedge-laying in May

-takes twice as much work...

-"..hedge-laying in June

-takes twice as much work again!"

-That's what we say in Ceredigion!

-That's very good!

-Are some tree species

-easier to lay than others?

-Thorn trees are good, aren't they?

-Hawthorns and blackthorns

-make a solid hedge.

-Hazel isn't bad, but it's more

-difficult to lay it firm and fast.

-I don't like ash.

-But if that's all there is,

-you have to use it.

-You said earlier

-that you worked as a contractor.

-You and your brother, Gwynfor,

-carried out a lot of work.

-How do you measure hedges?

-Where I live,

-hedges were measured by the perch.

-I'm not sure what that is.

-I'm not sure what that is.

-

-By the rod - eight yards.

-We were paid 1 per rod.

-It wasn't a well-paid job.

-How many rods

-could you do in a day?

-You had to work hard

-to do six rods, the way we do it.

-Today, contractors

-charge 5 per yard.

-Are there young lads

-learning the craft?

-Not many.

-I have no-one to take my place.

-My son isn't at all interested.

-Berwyn bach - there are

-many more years left in you!

-I hope so!

-Let's move on!

-It's nice here.

-Martin, your son,

-lives up there, does he?

-That's right.

-Here he is, with the cattle.

-Those heifers are fairly pure.

-He's the one

-who does most of the work.

-I'll have a word with Martin.

-I'll have a word with Martin.

-

-Martin, come over here.

-How are you, Dai?

-How are you, Dai?

-

-Very well.

-It's good weather for late November.

-Yes, very nice.

-The fields are green.

-Yes, this year.

-The weather has been very mild.

-Those heifers are fairly pure,

-aren't they?

-They're coming along slowly.

-Some are pure but unregistered.

-Others are from cross-bred cows

-that we've reared.

-You keep the female calves, do you?

-You keep the female calves, do you?

-

-Yes.

-We've bought one or two from

-the Dolcorsllwyn herd, next door.

-But generally, we want

-to breed our own heifers.

-These were given AI

-back in the summer...

-..because they're the daughters

-of our stock bull.

-Fourteen have been inseminated.

-They need scanning

-to check they're in calf.

-You don't lay hedges.

-No, I'm afraid I don't!

-Having seen your cattle,

-I can understand...

-..why your father

-keeps the hedges high!

-To stop them going over!

-I'm sure they're no worse

-than any other animal!

-Where's your other son?

-He's a builder.

-He lives in Cemaes.

-He's making money then.

-I wouldn't know about that,

-but it's better than farming.

-When the Dyfi Valley is at its best,

-it doesn't get much better.

-That's true.

-I often think...

-..it's hard work.

-There are lots of branches

-that you have to bend and lay.

-Do they ever spring back

-and whip you in the face?

-Yes, it happens -

-especially when working with thorns.

-Getting pricked by thorns

-can be bad too.

-Blackthorns

-are particularly dangerous.

-My father always told me

-to remove thorns from wounds...

-..because they can work their way

-further in.

-They can cause complications.

-I was thinking

-as we walked down.

-You take part

-in hedge-laying competitions.

-How do they mark the work?

-There are various points

-for different aspects.

-Effectiveness against stock

-is one of them.

-The hedge

-must be filled in properly.

-The greatest number of points

-are for firmness and finish.

-We're marked out of a total of 100.

-Have you ever been disappointed?

-Have you ever thought you'd done

-your best, but didn't win?

-You're an experienced competitor.

-I remember one occasion,

-two or three years ago...

-..at the National Hedge-laying

-Championship in Hereford.

-My brother and I were competing

-and we both thought we'd done well.

-But there were

-no prizes forthcoming.

-I saw the judge a little later.

-He asked, "Were you pleased?"

-"I don't know - I didn't

-get a prize, anyway," I said.

-"Oh - I gave you a prize, anyway."

-It transpired that I'd forgotten

-to wear this vital piece of kit...

-..and I'd been disqualified.

-My brother was disqualified too.

-Because you hadn't worn the hat?

-Yes.

-Well, here we are.

-I've seen the Montgomeryshire method

-of hedge-laying.

-After the break,

-I'll be in Brecknockshire.

-They have good hedges there too,

-although they're different.

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-I'm now in Brecknockshire,

-not far from Sennybridge.

-I'm meeting two brothers

-who lay very solid hedges.

-They've been doing this for years.

-Both have passed

-their threescore years and ten.

-John Williams and Basil Williams.

-John lives in Pentre-bach, and Basil

-lives like a king in Sennybridge.

-They're entertaining characters.

-Imagine all the years they've spent

-working on these hedges...

-..in all kinds of weather.

-It looks good from here, boys!

-How do you turn this off?

-Wait a minute.

-It's like me - if you turn it off,

-it's a job to bloody start it again!

-It looks solid now.

-It's not an easy hedge.

-It's a devil.

-The man who did this hedge

-previously should be jailed!

-He didn't go right to the base.

-He just worked the top.

-Now, I can see

-why you say closing a hedge.

-To me, hedges are always laid.

-But you call it closing a hedge.

-You close all the gaps firmly

-from top to bottom.

-You use living wood at the base.

-You use living wood at the base.

-

-As much as we can get.

-These trees have grown too strong.

-This is where the art comes into it

-- to work with what you have.

-That's right.

-I'll have to cut a piece here

-so I can bring it down.

-It looks completely different

-on this side now.

-I have to cut a piece off

-so the pleacher can go there.

-The pleacher must be flexible enough

-to cover this part.

-Don't say too much.

-If we teach these Cardis,

-we'll be out of bloody work!

-I'm telling you, it's difficult

-to find men who can do this job.

-Years ago,

-when people laid a hedge...

-..they used a spade, a billhook

-and gloves, and nothing else.

-They filled the hedge with dug soil.

-There would just be enough room

-for a mouse to squeeze through.

-That's how they used to do it.

-That's how they used to do it.

-

-A bird wouldn't get through this.

-No, they don't want pheasants

-in the field!

-They told us before we started!

-How old were you when you started?

-How old were you when you started?

-

-I've been doing this for 60 years.

-I can tell you one thing

-for bloody sure...

-..this is the first time

-I've worn a bloody helmet!

-That's a bloody fact!

-That's a bloody fact!

-

-Me too!

-I don't even own one!

-The birds don't mind

-if we don't wear helmets!

-It's just those rogues in Cardiff

-or wherever they are!

-If they had to wear them,

-they'd put a stop to it!

-Can't you have a word with them?

-Can't you have a word with them?

-

-They wouldn't take any notice of me!

-They might give me a row

-for not wearing one myself!

-I was about 16, I think...

-..around that age, when I started.

-You're healthy, considering

-that you're out in cold weather.

-Hedge-laying was more common

-back then.

-Everyone laid their hedges

-and ploughed their fields.

-The dead wood

-would be on that side.

-They'd have swedes

-growing in this field.

-Sheep wouldn't be able

-to get at the new shoots.

-Then in spring,

-they'd sow corn in this field.

-The shoots were able to grow

-before the sheep could eat them.

-That needs to come off.

-That needs to come off.

-

-Be careful.

-Wait - that can go too.

-Bring that up through there.

-Bring that up through there.

-

-What about this?

-I'll cut it off, shall I?

-I'll cut it off, shall I?

-

-It's on your side - you should know.

-It's an ugly old thing.

-It's an ugly old thing.

-

-It's even uglier than me.

-That bloody camera sees too much.

-It's alright for you -

-you're on the easier side.

-This bit is infernal.

-It's infernal.

-We've only just got enough stakes.

-I think there are two left.

-It's getting warm, John.

-Aye. It's not so bad

-in this weather.

-But in spring, when the sun is out,

-it's bloody hard to keep going.

-And the helmet...

-And the helmet...

-

-A helmet is no good.

-You have to wear one by the roadside

-in case someone sees you.

-But out in the fields - bugger it.

-Thank God there aren't any women

-around to hear John swearing.

-Do you like the helmet, Basil?

-Do you like the helmet, Basil?

-

-No, I don't like the bloody things.

-No.

-Health and safety gone mad,

-that's what it is.

-What trees

-do you prefer to work with?

-Thorns?

-Hazels and blackthorns are the best.

-Sheep won't go near

-blackthorn hedges.

-The thorns prick them.

-They make an excellent hedge.

-But there aren't many blackthorns.

-But there aren't many blackthorns.

-

-No, not now.

-No.

-They don't grow very well

-when you plant them.

-They don't grow

-as well as hawthorns.

-There won't be much left

-of Basil's helmet!

-The bloody thing's

-making my head itch.

-You need to get a new helmet.

-I think...

-I think...

-

-They cost more than the hedge.

-He hasn't worked this one out yet!

-It's not all like this.

-At the bottom end, there's a slope.

-You're still doing

-the easiest part, though.

-I have to knock the poles in

-and lay the wood.

-You...

-He's always in the best place!

-You'd think he was 100 years old

-- he knows all the bloody dodges!

-I'd say you're doing alright,

-both of you!

-Have you competed much?

-Have you competed much?

-

-No, never.

-No?

-You just do your work.

-To earn some beer money

-and make a living.

-I'd say it's a job that pays well.

-Yes, nowadays.

-I can remember laying hedges

-for seven shillings a perch.

-I'm glad you said perch.

-I was talking to Berwyn,

-and he used a different word.

-But we always used perch.

-That's right - seven yards.

-But in Hereford,

-a perch is eight yards.

-Is it? They're more stingy!

-Yes, they are!

-It must be ten yards in Cardigan!

-What about the different styles?

-We've looked at Montgomeryshire

-and Brecknockshire.

-Some don't use stakes at all -

-it's called crop and pleach.

-It would be difficult

-without stakes in this hedge.

-It wouldn't work at all -

-there aren't enough trees.

-You need lots of trees to do that.

-You need lots of trees to do that.

-

-How did you learn, originally?

-From your father?

-From your father?

-

-No. I left school to work on a farm.

-The farmer's son

-and the boss taught me.

-You learnt as you went along.

-You were at it every day

-throughout winter.

-You had a tea break at 10.00am,

-then laid hedges.

-Yes, tea at 10.00am and then

-we laid hedges until 3.00pm...

-..when the cattle came back in.

-We had to let them out because

-there was no water in the sheds.

-And a pint after finishing?

-And a pint after finishing?

-

-Well, no!

-There wasn't a pub nearby!

-The nearest pub was in Sennybridge,

-five miles away.

-Did you have a bike?

-Did you have a bike?

-

-A bike was all you had.

-At least driving wasn't a problem.

-Getting down there was alright,

-but coming back wasn't as easy!

-I'm surprised

-that you climb hedges so easily.

-When you're short of money,

-you'll do anything.

-When a man is short of money,

-he'll do anything.

-He'll make a big effort.

-Yes, he will.

-It's alright for you -

-you don't know what poverty's like.

-No doubt.

-Some people need more money

-than others, you see.

-Some can live frugally.

-It depends how much time

-you spend in the pub!

-Living frugally

-is a different matter.

-Some of us have no choice

-but to live frugally.

-A pint would be nice

-after you finish.

-Only one thing beats it - two pints!

-Two pints!

-You're like a double act.

-You've been together so long.

-Do you always work together?

-Yes... well, no.

-No, no.

-John, he says, "Yes, yes!"

-No...

-No...

-

-And he says, "No, no!"

-I worked with a bloke who worked

-with the council during the week.

-Dai James.

-He usually helped me

-with hedge-laying in winter.

-But we haven't worked together

-for years.

-Basil's cheaper!

-Basil's cheaper!

-

-Yes, he doesn't charge so much.

-Dai wouldn't knock the stakes in.

-John had to do that himself.

-Have you done any hedge-laying, Dai?

-Have you done any hedge-laying, Dai?

-

-No, nothing like this.

-I'd just cut branches

-and stick them in the gaps.

-It looks very different now.

-It looks very different now.

-

-Yes, it's looking alright now.

-Yes.

-Years ago, it was a common craft.

-Yes.

-Good fences make good neighbours.

-Good fences make good neighbours.

-

-Yes.

-It's amazing workmanship.

-There we are then.

-There we are then.

-

-Good.

-Where do we go now?

-Where do we go now?

-

-I'm going to look for refreshment.

-With hops in it.

-Yes, hops!

-But not too much!

-I'll come with you!

-I don't want tea -

-not at this time of the day!

-No, we don't want tea.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.