A bit o Hurdle making:

[fishfish]

We have recently started making hurdles for our own use,i saw them at a garden center the other day and they were selling for £60 a piece! shame i havent got a limetless supply of them or i would be making them as a living! the kids have been joining in and have really enjoyed making them,heres a few pics:

hurdle form by fishfish_01, on Flickr

hurdle form by fishfish_01, on Flickr

hurdle ,uprights by fishfish_01, on Flickr

first few rows by fishfish_01, on Flickr

taking shape by fishfish_01, on Flickr

nearly finished by fishfish_01, on Flickr

finished by fishfish_01, on Flickr

so far we have made 4 hurdles and are planning a further 5 0r so then some 2 footers for edging the veg garden.

thanks for looking.

 

[Pandabean]

Looking good and you have just given me an idea for the garden.
Did you use something like hazel, willow or ash for these?

 

[fishfish]

sorry should have said,we used hazel.theres a few good vids on youtube.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Excellent Justin, good to see you can log back in. The bowler suits you.

 

[ozzy1977]

Great stuff

 

[Clouston98]

Nice one mate!

 

[Pandabean]

sorry should have said,we used hazel.theres a few good vids on youtube.

How long do you reckon they would last? I am just thinking I have a plan for some raised beds but not sure if they would last that long. But I could use them for a low fence on the potential herb garden I have in mind.

 

[Toddy]

There's an art to making good long lasting hurdles well worth doing though.

The reckoning is that the cropping for coppicing is around seven or eight years.....and that's just time enough for them to last before the next coppicing crop is ready to make the next ones

Good thread fishfish

cheers,
M

 

[Dreadhead]

nice one Justin, i love these! I have seen hazel hurdles made before where they split each limb in half to make it go further, but it must be a nightmare to get that split right every time

 

[fishfish]

thats right toddy,you rarely find a truly old one exceptfor inside.

 

[fishfish]

nice one Justin, i love these! I have seen hazel hurdles made before where they split each limb in half to make it go further, but it must be a nightmare to get that split right every time

mate i even have a spar hook for the splitting ,gave up after wasting over 50 hazels,i think i need to learn person to person on this!

 

[Toddy]

There's a knack to it, there really is. It's like splitting willow too, it needs kedged along while you 'feel' the rod split and adjust your pressure/angle accordingly.
It's one of those lightbulb moments, and you suddenly just 'get' it. Once you do, it's there everytime you need it.

cheers,
M

 

[fishfish]

i thought that would be how it is,same in so many things!

 

[falcon]

I remember Jack Beckett (from Dorset and once of this forum) giving a masterful demo of hazel splitting at the first Wilderness Gathering....complete accuracy at amazing speed. Great to see...

 

[leon-1]

That would have been one of the early Gatherings and yes Jack really knew his stuff.

I remember Jack Beckett (from Dorset and once of this forum) giving a masterful demo of hazel splitting at the first Wilderness Gathering....complete accuracy at amazing speed. Great to see...

 

[THOaken]

Nice work. Hazel is just the perfect wood for the job.

 

[fishfish]

i love hazel.

 

[THOaken]

i love hazel.

I reckon more than 60% of the buildings at Butser Ancient Farm have been built with Hazel. It really is just so suited for everything from wattle fencing to long house construction.