Meet William – Hedge Laying Trainee with CPRE Hampshire

William Christie, from Essex, joined our hedge laying traineeship programme with a unique background. After studying Marine Biology at university, William spent time working and travelling on boats while volunteering in conservation whenever he could. His passion for the natural world eventually led him to apply for CPRE Hampshire’s hedge laying traineeship.

“I’ve always been fascinated by our relationship with nature,” William explains. “I love living outdoors, and the opportunities for further development during the traineeship seemed great.”

Since joining the programme, William’s enthusiasm for hedge laying has only grown:

William is keeping a written journal of his experience with Hedgelife, and he’s already looking forward to taking part in hedge laying competitions.

His story shows how this traineeship attracts people from all walks of life – bringing fresh energy and commitment to an ancient countryside craft that’s vital for wildlife, biodiversity and the future of our countryside.

You’ve heard from Will, one of our hedge laying trainees – now discover the impact on people like Ian, who welcome trainees into their work. Ian is the founder of Hedge Life, a company providing hedge and tree planting, hedge laying and coppicing services across the East and South East of England.