Hedge Britannia

Hedge Britannia

Episode

First
Broadcast

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20120521

Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key.

Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows.

The checkerboard pattern of lowland Britain as seen from the air reveals a history of boundaries and enclosures. The author's childhood weekends were spent contributing to this millennia old obsession for tidy borders by clipping the hedges of his parents suburban garden.

Over the course of his travels he discovers how hedges are amongst our most ancient monuments, meets hedgelaying champions and topiary fanatics, and sees the lengths to which some people will go to annoy the neighbours. Along the way he tells how a connection between paradise and the garden hedge grew up, why the British Army planted a barrier hedge hundreds of miles long in India, and how the notorious enclosures during the Industrial Revolution turned the country upside-down.

The checkerboard pattern of lowland Britain reveals a history of boundaries and enclosures

20120522

Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key.

Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows.

Our Neolithic ancestors figured out how to bend trees to their will and developed the art of coppicing. A skill that is renewing itself in 21st century competitions.

How the Neolithic art of coppicing is renewing itself in 21st-century competitions.

20120523

Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key.

Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows.

Topiary - was probably brought to these islands by the Romans, the controversy lingers on.

Topiary was probably brought to these islands by the Romans - the controversy lingers on.

20120524

Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key.

Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows.

An enthusiast's account of how Britain's history has been mapped by hedges. Today we hear about Captain Leyland's legacy.

Hedge enthusiast Hugh Barker explores the legacy of Captain Leyland.

05 LAST

20120525

Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key.

Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows.

Hedge People - from those who created the extravagantly absurd hedges of stately homes to those who campaign today for the preservation of our living margins.

Hedge People - from the creators of stately home hedges to the modern campaigners.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20120521	Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key. Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows. The checkerboard pattern of lowland Britain as seen from the air reveals a history of boundaries and enclosures. The author's childhood weekends were spent contributing to this millennia old obsession for tidy borders by clipping the hedges of his parents suburban garden. Over the course of his travels he discovers how hedges are amongst our most ancient monuments, meets hedgelaying champions and topiary fanatics, and sees the lengths to which some people will go to annoy the neighbours. Along the way he tells how a connection between paradise and the garden hedge grew up, why the British Army planted a barrier hedge hundreds of miles long in India, and how the notorious enclosures during the Industrial Revolution turned the country upside-down. The checkerboard pattern of lowland Britain reveals a history of boundaries and enclosures
02	20120522	Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key. Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows. Our Neolithic ancestors figured out how to bend trees to their will and developed the art of coppicing. A skill that is renewing itself in 21st century competitions. Over the course of his travels he discovers how hedges are amongst our most ancient monuments, meets hedgelaying champions and topiary fanatics, and sees the lengths to which some people will go to annoy the neighbours. Along the way he tells how a connection between paradise and the garden hedge grew up, why the British Army planted a barrier hedge hundreds of miles long in India, and how the notorious enclosures during the Industrial Revolution turned the country upside-down. How the Neolithic art of coppicing is renewing itself in 21st-century competitions.
03	20120523	Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key. Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows. Topiary - was probably brought to these islands by the Romans, the controversy lingers on. Over the course of his travels he discovers how hedges are amongst our most ancient monuments, meets hedgelaying champions and topiary fanatics, and sees the lengths to which some people will go to annoy the neighbours. Along the way he tells how a connection between paradise and the garden hedge grew up, why the British Army planted a barrier hedge hundreds of miles long in India, and how the notorious enclosures during the Industrial Revolution turned the country upside-down. Topiary was probably brought to these islands by the Romans - the controversy lingers on.
04	20120524	Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key. Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows. An enthusiast's account of how Britain's history has been mapped by hedges. Today we hear about Captain Leyland's legacy. Over the course of his travels he discovers how hedges are amongst our most ancient monuments, meets hedgelaying champions and topiary fanatics, and sees the lengths to which some people will go to annoy the neighbours. Along the way he tells how a connection between paradise and the garden hedge grew up, why the British Army planted a barrier hedge hundreds of miles long in India, and how the notorious enclosures during the Industrial Revolution turned the country upside-down. Hedge enthusiast Hugh Barker explores the legacy of Captain Leyland.
05 LAST	20120525	Written by Hugh Barker. Read by Tim Key. Hugh Barker, a hedge enthusiast, has journeyed across Britain to explore its remarkable variety of hedgerows. Hedge People - from those who created the extravagantly absurd hedges of stately homes to those who campaign today for the preservation of our living margins. Over the course of his travels he discovers how hedges are amongst our most ancient monuments, meets hedgelaying champions and topiary fanatics, and sees the lengths to which some people will go to annoy the neighbours. Along the way he tells how a connection between paradise and the garden hedge grew up, why the British Army planted a barrier hedge hundreds of miles long in India, and how the notorious enclosures during the Industrial Revolution turned the country upside-down. Hedge People - from the creators of stately home hedges to the modern campaigners.