Broadfork

TIL how to make a hurdle from coppiced hazel.

Two hurdles were made today and a couple others are off to a good start.

It’s tough work on the fingers twisting the hazel rods to enable them to bend around the end stakes where they act as stays.

I had an enjoyable and very satisfying time making this.

They will be used to make a barrier between the nature reserve and the allotment site next door. #Nature #Gardening #NewSkills #Allotment #Coppicing

Feb 2, 2025 at 6:53pmWeb
Show threadPollinatorsFeb 2, 2025
@Broadfork Very nice work. Do you kneel or hover to get the first hazel weaving through?
Show threadmattiaFeb 2, 2025
@Broadfork these words make my brain go brrrrr 🤩
Show threadLaurenFeb 2, 2025
@Broadfork They look great! What tool did you use to split the rods in half? I want to make another wattle fence and being able to use thicker branches would be really useful to give me more material
Show threadrooftopjaxxFeb 2, 2025
@Broadfork The joy of riving.
Show threadHesperalisFeb 2, 2025
@Broadfork They look super! Network rail have commandeered our site and cutting back loads of hazel to get access for their heavy machinery. I'm going to have a look tomorrow to see if there are any salvagable rods and have a go. I know you need base blocks but I might be able to make something temporary.
Show threadYvanFeb 2, 2025
@Hesperalis @Broadfork yes, it's very inspiring to see... and looks like a super-useful skill. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for materials... might need to consider some guerilla coppicing. 😂 I wish we had more trees and woodlands around these parts in general. (Not that I'm particularly one for just wandering into random woodlands and taking materials, it's more so that if we did there'd be more likely to be folks doing things like this who we could hang out with!)
Show threadHesperalisFeb 2, 2025
@Broadfork Here is a very shoddy one I did last year when mr M cut back some hazel on his old plot. The idea was to stop the wild area around the pond flopping onto the path.
Show threadPhil Stevens Feb 2, 2025
@Broadfork Those are impressive. Thanks for sharing the tip about using the drilled plank as a jig...I was already going to coppice some of our trees this winter and now I have plans.
Show threadKellyAnn Romanych (she/her)Feb 2, 2025
@Broadfork that came out great! I wonder if I can do something similar with my Romneya 🤔
Show threadloptaSep 30, 2025
@Broadfork HURDLES! \o/