|
| home |
| about IWHG |
| hedgelaying |
| competition |
| sponsoring |
| gallery |
| contact |
| subscribe |
The Annual IW Hedgelaying Competition
The 28th Annual IW Hedgelaying Competition
The 2022 competition is cancelled.
Saturday 25th February 2023 from 10am until 4pm
2021 COMPETITION IS POSTPONED TO 2023
Subscribe to our newsletter to be informed.
Entry is free for competitors and spectators - all are welcome.
Lead sponsors this year: Landscape Therapy; IW AONB; Pinkeye Graphics
The Isle of Wight Hedgerow Group announced that the popular annual hedgelaying competition, scheduled for 26 February 2022, will not take place this year. The hedgelaying competition, held annually at locations round the Island, has been a regular fixture in the Island's agricultural events calendar for many years. The event draws spectators and competitors from around the Island and in recent years, visitors and entrants from around the south of England have also joined in. Tony Ridd, one of the organisers of the competition, explained: "We held one of the very last public events in 2020 before lockdown, and we were really hoping to come back this year having only missed one event. "Unfortunately we discovered at a late stage that the location we had identified was no longer available. "We've not been able to find another hedge on a suitable site in time. "Because the competition involves some people travelling from the mainland, booking accommodation, and other commitments, we had to let people know in good time, so we made the very reluctant decision to cancel this year's event." Matthew Chatfield, competition co-organiser, added: "This is a big disappointment for us and I know it will be for many hedgelaying fans. "We're working to find another location that we can use, and we will certainly be back next year, so put 25 February 2023 in your diary now!"
If you are interested in entering, please get in touch! If you're already on our email mailing list you will get a message with an entry form.
(No competition was held in 2022)
(No competition was held in 2021)
(No competition was held in 2019)
(2014 competition cancelled due to poor weather)
Each year, the Isle of Wight Hedgerow Group organises the Isle of Wight Hedgelaying Competition.
The following is the report of the 2007 competition, as
reported by Jon Moreno of the Isle of Wight County Press.
A
RECORD number of spectators witnessed another captivating IW Hedgelaying Competition
with people of all abilities pitting their skills against each other on Saturday.
The 16th annual challenge, held at Blackwater Hollow, saw Godshill man Dick
Pulleine make it a highly impressive four-in-a-row in the open competition. 
Dick Pulleine carries out the finishing touches Mr Pulleine, 57, of
Bleak Down, who runs a coppicing business, retained the AONB Cup, making
it his eighth success since 1993, the year the competition began.
“There is no secret to my success. I do this kind of thing in the winter for a living — planting new hedgerows or refurbishing them,” said Mr Pulleine. “I’m well pleased with another win and enjoy some competition, though I have to say this year was one of the toughest I’ve had to date. Taking part each year gives me a buzz and I always set out to win. With the cup, I also won a new chainsaw, which will do me nicely.”
The judges, wood sculptor Paul Sivell and expert hedgelayer Alan Ashby, of Tunbridge Wells, had a tough task trying to pick a winner in the team event, which attracted nine entries. IW Council countryside rangers Richard Temple, Karl Dyson and Nick Webb, who called themselves The Power Rangers, took part in the competition for the first time and won The Landscape Therapy Challenge Trophy. In a day of firsts, National Trust head warden Robin Lang, 44, also won the novices event in his first-ever appearance in the contest, scooping The Mary Sitch Challenge Cup, a pruning saw and Hursts gift tokens for his efforts.
“I had always watched the competition and had been thinking about taking part for a long time, but never got round to it until this year. It was great fun, hedgelaying with people I know. It was a really nice atmosphere there and would have enjoyed taking part whether I had won or not,” he said.
Read other media reports of previous competitons.
Categories
There are three categories for the competition.
| OPEN Any person may apply to enter the Open category. Prize: The Denis Russell Cup, presented by the Isle of Wight AONB Partnership |
 |
| NOVICE Entrants to the Novice category must not have won any hedgelaying cup or prize more than twice. Prize: The Mary Sitch Cup |
 |
TEAM The Team category may consist of two or three persons, of whom one or more should be eligible for the Novice category. Prize: The Landscape Therapy Trophy |
 |
|
Since 2017 THE LANDSCAPE THERAPY TROPHY Since 2008 THE W HURST & SONS CUP Until 2010 THE WIGHT WILDLIFE AWARD (Pictured, now retired) |
 |