We have an old hedge that over the years has been abandoned and not looked after. It has got too tall, and too wide making cutting it, quite difficult. Balancing on a ladder, wielding a trimmer is not recommended.

Porky cuts the field hedges in the Autumn, but I passed on it this year as I was uncertain about the optimum height.

In a DIY world that is exactly what is involved! Each large stem has to be lopped, and I’m taking it down to about three feet, from six.

Kill or cure? Who knows but we need some shoots to burst from the bottom as well as the tops. plenty of debris of course, round here it’s known as “brash”.