Sources & bibliography on hedges & hedgelaying

Please note that some of the references listed cover hedging only incidentally. Sources suitable as reference works on hedges are clearly indicated.

Author Title and publisher Comments
Angus, Anne Hedgerow
Partridge Press 1987
162 pages Beautifully produced book in the form of a journal describing a particular hedge in West Wales throughout the year. Marvellous illustrations throughout by Michael Woods
Beddall, J.H. Hedges for Farm and Garden
Faber & Faber 1950
360 pages Excellent book. Large section on farm hedges. Also covers fences, gates, stiles, stone and turf hedges. Out of print and difficult to find!
Brooks, Alan and Agate, Elizabeth Hedging
BTCV 1975/1998
123 pages The best practical guide to hedgelaying. Also covers planting and establishment. Updated and much improved in 1998 with much more information on regional styles of hedgelaying.
This book can be accessed online so you can see why you should buy a paper copy. View online.
Burton, Robert Nature by the Roadside
EP Publishing 1977
115 pages Small section on hedges.
Dowdeswell, W.H. Hedgerows and Verges
Allen & Unwin 1987
190 pages Authoritative and fascinating academic study.
Feltwell, John A Guide to Countryside Conservation - Britain's Rural Heritage
WI Books 1989, 160 pages Includes a chapter on hedgerows.
Greaves, Valerie Hedgelaying Explained
National Hedgelaying Society
74 pages Good practical guide. Very inexpensive. Gives more detail than BTCV on different hedging styles.
Hart, Edward Hedge Laying and Fencing
Thorsons 1981
128 pages A practical guide for the smallholder. Covers hedgelaying in some detail, also chapters on planting, fencing and walling
Hennell, Thomas The Countryman at Work
Architectural Press 1947
80 pages Originally a series of articles in The Architectural Review. Mainly notable for the author's illustrations. Short chapters on hedging, hurdle making and the woodman.
Lee, Brian Fields & Hedgerows-A Nature Guide
Crowood Press 1985, 128 pages Emphasis is on flora and fauna throughout.
Le Sueur, A.D.C Hedges, Shelterbelts and Screens
Country Life 1951
128 pages Good chapter on agricultural hedges including description of hedgelaying. Particularly useful on shelterbelts which are little covered elsewhere in this detail.
Out of print and difficult to find!
Morley, Margaret and Ken The Great Upheaval - An Account of the Enclosure of Wingrave and Rowsham in 1798
Bucks Print, Aylesbury 1994
62 pages Fascinating account of a single enclosure act and its impact on a community.
Maclean, Murray New Hedges for the Countryside
Farming Press 1992
276 pages A comprehensive modern guide, concentrating, as you would expect, on hedge propagation, planting and aftercare.
Martin, George A. Fences, Gates and Bridges - A Practical Guide
Stephen Greene Press 1974
191 pages Reprint of this 1887 publication from the USA surprises with a small section on hedges and hedgelaying and advice on suitable hedging plants for the US.
Pollard, Hooper & Moore, Hedges
Collins New Naturalist 1974
256 pages Indispensable but out of print. If you read only one book about hedges, this should be it!
Rackham, Oliver The History of the Countryside
Dent & Sons 1986
445 pages Marvellous, massive and very readable with an excellent section on hedges.
Rackham, Oliver The Illustrated History of the Countryside
Weidenfeld & Nicholson 1994
240 pages Beautifully illustrated. Good section on hedges.
Showell, Romola Hedges, Walls and Boundaries
Dryad Press 1986
48 pages An introduction for children covering walls as well as hedges
Stowe, E.J. Crafts of the Countryside
Longmans 1948
128 pages Short chapter on hedging. Other chapters cover dry stone walling and hurdle making
Streeter, D and Richardson, R Discovering Hedgerows
BBC 1982
160 pages Concentrates on flora and fauna. Follows two hedges month by month through the season. Nicely illustrated.
Thomas, Eric & White, John T Hedgerow
Dorling Kindersley 1982
46 pages Simple text, beautiful colour illustrations. Suitable for children.
Wilson, Ron The Hedgerow Book
David & Charles 1979
204 pages Concentrates on hedgerow plants and animals.
Young, Arthur General View of the Agriculture of the County of Hertforshire (1804)
David & Charles Reprints 1971
236 pages Fascinating study of the rural economy of Herts in the early 19th century. Young covers hedgelaying in some detail, including a series of plates and remarks that Herts was where it was most widely practised.

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Author	Title and publisher	Comments
Angus, Anne	Hedgerow Partridge Press 1987 162 pages	Beautifully produced book in the form of a journal describing a particular hedge in West Wales throughout the year. Marvellous illustrations throughout by Michael Woods
Beddall, J.H.	Hedges for Farm and Garden Faber & Faber 1950 360 pages	Excellent book. Large section on farm hedges. Also covers fences, gates, stiles, stone and turf hedges. Out of print and difficult to find!
Brooks, Alan and Agate, Elizabeth	Hedging BTCV 1975/1998 123 pages	The best practical guide to hedgelaying. Also covers planting and establishment. Updated and much improved in 1998 with much more information on regional styles of hedgelaying. This book can be accessed online so you can see why you should buy a paper copy. View online.
Burton, Robert	Nature by the Roadside EP Publishing 1977 115 pages	Small section on hedges.
Dowdeswell, W.H.	Hedgerows and Verges Allen & Unwin 1987 190 pages	Authoritative and fascinating academic study.
Feltwell, John	A Guide to Countryside Conservation - Britain's Rural Heritage WI Books 1989, 160 pages	Includes a chapter on hedgerows.
Greaves, Valerie	Hedgelaying Explained National Hedgelaying Society 74 pages	Good practical guide. Very inexpensive. Gives more detail than BTCV on different hedging styles.
Hart, Edward	Hedge Laying and Fencing Thorsons 1981 128 pages	A practical guide for the smallholder. Covers hedgelaying in some detail, also chapters on planting, fencing and walling
Hennell, Thomas	The Countryman at Work Architectural Press 1947 80 pages	Originally a series of articles in The Architectural Review. Mainly notable for the author's illustrations. Short chapters on hedging, hurdle making and the woodman.
Lee, Brian	Fields & Hedgerows-A Nature Guide Crowood Press 1985, 128 pages	Emphasis is on flora and fauna throughout.
Le Sueur, A.D.C	Hedges, Shelterbelts and Screens Country Life 1951 128 pages	Good chapter on agricultural hedges including description of hedgelaying. Particularly useful on shelterbelts which are little covered elsewhere in this detail. Out of print and difficult to find!
Morley, Margaret and Ken	The Great Upheaval - An Account of the Enclosure of Wingrave and Rowsham in 1798 Bucks Print, Aylesbury 1994 62 pages	Fascinating account of a single enclosure act and its impact on a community.
Maclean, Murray	New Hedges for the Countryside Farming Press 1992 276 pages	A comprehensive modern guide, concentrating, as you would expect, on hedge propagation, planting and aftercare.
Martin, George A.	Fences, Gates and Bridges - A Practical Guide Stephen Greene Press 1974 191 pages	Reprint of this 1887 publication from the USA surprises with a small section on hedges and hedgelaying and advice on suitable hedging plants for the US.
Pollard, Hooper & Moore,	Hedges Collins New Naturalist 1974 256 pages	Indispensable but out of print. If you read only one book about hedges, this should be it!
Rackham, Oliver	The History of the Countryside Dent & Sons 1986 445 pages	Marvellous, massive and very readable with an excellent section on hedges.
Rackham, Oliver	The Illustrated History of the Countryside Weidenfeld & Nicholson 1994 240 pages	Beautifully illustrated. Good section on hedges.
Showell, Romola	Hedges, Walls and Boundaries Dryad Press 1986 48 pages	An introduction for children covering walls as well as hedges
Stowe, E.J.	Crafts of the Countryside Longmans 1948 128 pages	Short chapter on hedging. Other chapters cover dry stone walling and hurdle making
Streeter, D and Richardson, R	Discovering Hedgerows BBC 1982 160 pages	Concentrates on flora and fauna. Follows two hedges month by month through the season. Nicely illustrated.
Thomas, Eric & White, John T	Hedgerow Dorling Kindersley 1982 46 pages	Simple text, beautiful colour illustrations. Suitable for children.
Wilson, Ron	The Hedgerow Book David & Charles 1979 204 pages	Concentrates on hedgerow plants and animals.
Young, Arthur	General View of the Agriculture of the County of Hertforshire (1804) David & Charles Reprints 1971 236 pages	Fascinating study of the rural economy of Herts in the early 19th century. Young covers hedgelaying in some detail, including a series of plates and remarks that Herts was where it was most widely practised.