Hazel Hurdle Installation - A Question

[bearbait]

I've just bought a few hazel (wattle) hurdles for my camp, along with some chestnut stakes.

The hurdles have come with the sails (vertical bits) protruding some 15cm/6" below the bottom of the hurdle proper - where they fitted into the mould. Should I point these and drive them into the ground when installing them? Or cut them off (almost) flush? Or leave them as they are to rest on the ground?

I plan to wire them to the chestnut stakes.

Ta for advice...

 

[Dave]

Isnt that covered in the mike abbot books youve got mate?

I'll have a look if you need me to..

 

[bearbait]

I've had a good review of my various books but can find nothing definitive. The closest anything comes is to suggest cutting off the sails about 1"/2.5cm below the weave - apart from those at each end which are pointed to go into the ground. This recommendation was for wattle hurdles used for constraining sheep, and therefore moved relatively frequently. Mine are a permanent installation.

I decided to go ahead and install them as they were, figuring that the slight extra distance from the ground may encourage the lower weavey bits to start to rot less quickly.

 

[British Red]

They will rot much more quickly than sweet chestnut, but if you cut the sails off too short, they fall apart! You've done right, don't hammer them in or cut them off. Hurdles were always meant to move, they were temporary field enclosures.