Wayland's Smithy dead hedge project

The aim is to restore the hedge 150m either side of the track from The Ridgeway National Trail to Wayland’s Smithy to 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 to Wayland’s Smithy 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.

The trees are too mature to lay so the is project will involve cutting down the old hedge, clearing the line and replacing it with a dead hedge made up of the arisings from the old hedge. This work will be done by contractors and volunteers who are part of a diversity project.

To ensure that all the volunteers involved have the opportunity to get involved with some aspect of the work and have a motivating day outside at the end of which they can see the impact of what they have done, the initial felling will be done by a contractor with a chainsaw ahead of the volunteer work session. The contractor will then work with the volunteers teaching and supervising them to maximise the efficiency of the session.

In January/February 2026, a new hedge will be planted along the length which has been restored, 150m either side of the entrance to Wayland’s Smithy. The new hedge plants etc are being funded via the Hedgerow Heroes project run by Wild Oxfordshire with funding from CPRE Oxfordshire.