Saturday 7th March 2026, 11am in person event

Hedges are as old as civilisation and as emblematic of the British countryside as chalk streams, hay meadows and oak trees. But unlike woodland and rivers, farmland hedges remain on the periphery of the public consciousness, often going unnoticed and almost always underappreciated.

Join us for a morning of enlightening, engaging and entertaining conversation with professional hedgelayer, conservationist, writer and author, Richard Negus.

In his book ‘WORDS FROM THE HEDGE – A Hedgelayer’s View of the Countryside’, Richard takes us on a journey that reveals these ribbons of thorn and barb are so much more than mere decoration or boundary markers. They are essential for much-needed wildlife recovery. Each hedge is a testament to generations of human skill and labour, requiring ongoing maintenance to survive and thrive.

Richard has been heralded as “the hedgerow’s one true champion” by celebrated Countryside Writer John Lewis-Stempel, and his book praised for being “joyful and illuminating” and “an important, funny and passionate defence of the British countryside”.

Richard Negus is a former soldier and professional horseman. He now lays hedges for a living and is recognised as one of the country’s leading exponents and practitioners of hedgerow management and rejuvenation.

He lives in Suffolk, co-hosts a weekly podcast – Countryslide – covering British rural life and work, and writes for publications including
The Daily Telegraph, The Critic and Scribehound.