My Day at Hedgefest 2025 – A Student’s Perspective

As a student from Sparsholt University, I had the opportunity to attend Hedgefest 2025 on Friday 24th October, held at the Selborne Estate.

The event was organised by South Downs National Park, Farming Wildlife Advisory Group, and the Selborne Landscape Partnership, with the goal of bringing together farmers, landowners and hedgerow enthusiasts to promote better hedgerow management. As someone still learning the ropes, it was great to be surrounded by people so passionate and knowledgeable about hedgerows.

Throughout the day, we watched live demonstrations of hedge laying and incremental trimming. Seeing them in action helped me understand not just the practical side, but also the care and skill involved in maintaining healthy hedgerows.

I also joined guided walks and talks, which gave me the chance to speak directly with other attendees. One of the highlights was hearing Megan Gimber, Key Habitats Officer at People’s Trust for Endangered Species, speak about the vital role hedgerows play in supporting biodiversity and protecting the environment.

Vice Chairman of the National Hedgelaying Society, Nigel Adams followed with a detailed explanation of incremental trimming which is a method that balances productivity with ecological care. His talk was technical but accessible and I came away with a much clearer understanding of how farmers can manage hedgerows sustainably.

The final session was a Q&A with three experienced farmers who shared their own journeys with hedge laying. It was an opportunity to share honest, practical advice, especially for beginners. The open discussion gave everyone a chance to ask questions and learn from real-world experiences.

CPRE Hampshire was part of the event and Ellie Banks gave a brilliant talk on the Hampshire Hedge project. She explained what CPRE does to protect and enhance the countryside and how hedgerows fit into that mission. Ellie said,

Alongside Dan, we were delighted to welcome Olly, a second-year student studying Ecology and Conservation at University Centre Sparsholt, who joined us for his work placement with CPRE Hampshire. Read on to hear Olly’s reflections on the art of laying a hedge and what he learned from the experience.