Of Thorn & Briar: A Year with the West Country Hedgelayer

(Hardback)

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Description

Paul Lamb is a hedgelayer. From the end of summer until the birds begin to nest in the spring, his primary employment is the maintenance and restoration of hedgerows.

The British countryside is defined by these ancient boundaries. A living structure, woven into the very fabric of rural life, hedgerows celebrate mans partnership with nature. In recent years, as the traditional management techniques were forgotten, they have declined dramatically. This has had a devastating effect on the wildlife they support.

Paul works alone and by hand to rejuvenate and restore these linear woodlands. He lives in his wagon, as many itinerant rural workers used to, and travels the south west corner of England.

This book, following the rhythm of the seasons, describes Pauls life on the road and the practical aspects of his job, including the highs and the lows. It is about practising a craft with skill and preserving it for future generations, and celebrating the glory of the landscape he loves so much.

Author Bio

Paul was born in 1976. Four years later, he emigrated with his parents to New Zealand. It was here he first developed a love for the outdoors, spending much time in the wild places of the North Island. He returned to Britain in his teens and found employment as an itinerant farm labourer. In his early twenties, Paul took an apprenticeship with a Dorset woodsman in an isolated coppice and began his journey into woodsmanship. Paul has earned his living from the woodlands and hedgerows of the West Country ever since. Paul was introduced to social media by his daughters in 2020, as a means for promoting his work and passion for the countryside and rural craft. Known as the westcountry_hedgelayer, Paul now has over 180,000 engaged followers on Instagram.