From the earliest days of Neolithic man hedges have been used as stock-proof barriers and boundary markers. Today, they are also an integral part of every garden albeit now replaced by timber fences. However, the principles are the same: security, privacy and decoration. Here, Averil Bedrich, an experienced hedging plant nurserywoman, encourages gardeners to replace these hard materials with green barriers. The benefits are enormous: an increase in the wildlife living in the garden thereby reducing the number of pests; pollution and noise reduction by way of the noise absorption qualities of many plants, especially evergreens such as leylandii; flowers in spring and summer, foliage colour in autumn and berries for winter interest; thorns for intruder prevention - not many burglars would want to battle through a holly or pyracantha hedge. Hedges can be attractive in their own rights, adding colour screening within a garden, maybe to hide a working area, to divide a garden into rooms or separate areas or as low hedges bordering herbaceous plantings or knot and herb gardens. An evergreen backdrop of yew will set off a lush herbaceous planting, becoming the stage against which it is set. Topiary too can be incorporated into hedges such as privet, yew and holly, as found in many old English cottage gardens as well as larger, country houses. From the history and a detailed directory of hedging plants for all situations and uses, the books then moves onto design, planting and maintenance. Useful additions are the techniques of plashing and pleaching, less complicated than at first thought thanks to Averil Bedrich's easy to read but expert writing. Nicely illustrated and well laid-out, this is a book that should inspire people to change their views on hedging: not all hedging plants are as maligned as the Leyland Cypress.
