Stonewalls and Hedgebanks
Stone walls and hedges are a very important local characteristic of the Dartmoor landscape. Many of the boundaries on Dartmoor are of historic interest, some remaining from the medieval period, and if you look clearly on Holne Moor, the Plym Valley and in the Dart Valley you can see clear evidence of prehistoric boundaries, some of which still have use today. Almost anywhere you look on Dartmoor you will be able to see a stone wall or hedgebank, making them a very significant part of the Dartmoor landscape today.
| The stone walls on the moorland are built of granite boulders of varying sizes, without the use of any mortar and are referred to as dry stone walls. They can be anything up to about 230 years old, and can be either single skin or double skinned walls. They were originally built using whatever stone was available to hand, and their survival for all this time demonstrates the skills of the original builders. These skills were passed from father to son through the generations, but are now at risk of being lost as less and less farms are able to support younger generations staying in agricultural work. |  |
 | Hedgebanks too are a traditional form of boundary, with a bank, often stone-faced, supporting a hedge on top of native species such as hawthorn, hazel, holly, ash or beech. The traditional management of hedges – hedge-laying or hedge-steeping as it is known in Devon - would utilise every single piece of wood cut out of the hedge when it was laid, with the smaller pieces being used for pea sticks, firewood, and the remaining twigs for kindling. Again, the skills for laying hedges were passed down through families, and again there is a risk that these skills may be lost. |
To this end, the Dartmoor National Park Authority runs annual stone walling and hedgelaying training courses, aimed primarily at local people, to encourage the retention of these traditional skills. An annual stonewalling course is held, usually in September, and at the appropriate time of year details and application forms can be downloaded here. Hedgelaying courses are usually held in January, and similarly, at the appropriate time, details and application forms can be downloaded here.
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The Devon Rural Skills Trust is a charitable organisation which exists to promote a number of traditional rural skills and the Dartmoor National Park Authority works in partnership with the Trust to provide instruction on its training courses. Read more about the Devon Rural Skills Trust (external link, opens new browser)
Hedgerow management
Grant aid for hedgerow restoration and management may be available from the following bodies;
- Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes: Defra.
- Hedgerow Renovation Grant Scheme: Dartmoor National Park Authority.
Dartmoor National Park Authority offers free advice on hedgerow management on land within Dartmoor National Park.
