Enhancing habitat at Waylands Smithy – Phase 2

The aim is to complete the restoration of the hedge 150m either side of the entrance to Wayland's Smithy on The Ridgeway National Trail. It will improve the biodiversity value of the hedge as wildlife habitat whilst also opening the Scheduled Monument up visibly so trail users can see it is there. The old hedges either side of the entrance have become sparse and structurally unsound. The trees are either dead or too thick to lay and have grown towards each other to such an extent that users (walkers etc) of the National Trail would be mistaken in thinking that the Smithy was inaccessible. 100m of the 300m hedge has been cut down and made into a dead hedge, the project is to complete the remaining 200m to the same standard. The creation of the dead hedge is mostly executed by volunteers from a diversity project. The material is from the arisings of the original hedge which is being cut down and chopped up by contractors. A 300m trench will be excavated by contractors allowing volunteers to plant the new hedge easily. The contractor will be working with the volunteers teaching and supervising them to maximise the efficiency of the sessions. The new hedge plants and protection are being funded via the Hedgerow Heroes project run by Wild Oxfordshire with funding from CPRE Oxfordshire.