Hedging success in National Park - Picture courtesy of Bryan Wright

And plans are in the pipeline to make it a regular event in the future.

The first Yorkshire Dales Annual Hedge Laying Competition was organised by the Lancashire and Westmorland Hedge Laying Association as part of its Lancashire and Westmorland Grand Prix and it was part funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) Sustainable Development Fund (SDF), which is managed by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Association chairman Joe Craig said: “I am grateful to the landowners for allowing us to use the hedges and adjacent fields for the competition, and I’d like to congratulate all competitors for their high standard of hedge laying on the day. It was a pleasure to watch.”

Adrian Shepherd, theYDNPA’s Farm and Countryside Officer, said: “The success of the inaugural competition gives an excellent basis to continue the competition as an annual event in the National Park.

“It obviously benefits the environment by keeping these vital wildlife ‘pathways’ in good condition and it is an excellent way of making sure this traditional skill lives on and is passed down to the next generation.

Kevin Lancaster presenting overall winner Peter Gibson with his prize. Picture courtesy of Bryan Wright.

“I would also like to thank the local farmers, the YDNPA Rangers and the Dales Volunteers for helping the competition run so well.” 

The judges were Roger Sedgwick of Sedbergh and George Redmayne of Windermere and National Park Authority chairman Kevin Lancaster presented the cash prizes and congratulated Peter Gibson from Kendal, who was the Championship class winner and was judged the best hedger on the field.

The individual category winners will be presented with a trophy at the grand prix presentation night in April next year.

 Full results were:

Championship class: 1st Peter Gibson, 2nd Robert Bell, 3rd Henry Kirkwood

Open class: 1st Heather Swift, 2nd Richard Attan, 3rd William Hodgson

Novice class: 1st Alan Proctor, 2nd Max Roclawski, 3rd Peter Freeman

Junior: 1st Henry Knowles, 2nd Neil Strickland & 3rd Craig Proctor.