Lack of hedge leads to loss of competition

By IW Observer.co.uk Feb 16, 2022

The Isle of Wight Hedgelaying Competition will not take place in 2022.

The Isle of Wight Hedgerow Group announced today that the popular annual hedgelaying competition, scheduled for 26 February, will not take place this year.

The hedgelaying competition, held annually at locations round the Island, has been a regular fixture in the Island’s agricultural events calendar for many years. The event draws spectators and competitors from around the Island and, in recent years, visitors and entrants from around the south of England have also joined in.

Tony Ridd, one of the organisers of the competition, explained: “We held one of the very last public events in 2020 before lockdown, and we were really hoping to come back this year having only missed one event. Unfortunately we discovered at a late stage that the location we had identified was no longer available.
“We’ve not been able to find another hedge on a suitable site in time.”

Matthew Chatfield, competition co-organiser, added: “This is a big disappointment for us and I know it will be for many hedgelaying fans.
“We’re working to find another location that we can use next year, and we will certainly be back, so put 25 February 2023 in your diary now!”