Hazel Binders And Chestnut Stakes

Brittle Hazel Binders

The hazel binders that are used to edge the front of the two borders of the Broad walk usually last three years before they become brittle and need replacing. Unfortunately, those that front the first border have deteriorated in just two years since they were put in place, see blog entry 28th April 2016 'Hazel Binding The Front Of The Woodland Border' so now need to be replaced.

Off To The Chipper Pile

Stakes Removed

The old binders and stakes were removed and taken to the chipping pile where they will remain until chipped, the chipped wood will be used as a mulch on some of the woodland borders.

Preparation Table

The hazel binders and chestnut stakes were cut down by the team at the Harcourt Arboretum two weeks ago, see blog entry 6th February 'The Annual Work Trip To University of Oxford's Harcourt Arboretum' and were delivered to the college on Monday. Before the binding can begin the long pieces of chestnut need to be made into stakes by cutting them into foot long lengths and whittling one end into a point, fifty stakes are needed to support the long hazel binders. 

Whittling The Chestnut Stakes

 

Whittling To A Point

Hammering In The New Stakes

New Stakes

The front of the border is cut away with a spade to create a flat edge before the stakes are hammered in with a two foot spacing between them .

Bending The Binders Around The Stakes

With the stakes in place the long hazel binders are interwoven between them, in front-behind-in front-behind all along the border creating a natural looking edge. The last line of the blog entry from April 2016 read "This section will be replaced in three years, spring 2019!", let's hope this time it does last the expected three years and won't need to be replaced until spring 2021!

A New Edge

The New Edge For The First Border