Hedge Britannia

A Curious History of a British Obsession

This is the story of how British
hedgerows contribute to our national identity and our wildlife. Over
the centuries we have proved ourselves to be a nation of hedge growers,
marking boundaries or trimming them into fantastical creations. From
formal garden features to emphatically rustic barriers, Hugh explores
our hedges in all their diversity.

Hedge Britannia offers a witty
insight into the history of hedges and the way they relate to our
culture as well as our landscape. Hugh travels the breadth of Britain
meeting fellow enthusiasts who range from horticultural experts to the
Brixton man who lovingly cultivated a whale-shaped hedge and ran into
trouble with the local council. As well as two full-colour plate
sections, there are case studies about hedges of particular note, like
the towering Meikleour beech hedge, the castellated hedge and spectacular topiary at Levens
Hall and the bamboozling hedge maze at Chatsworth (where Hugh got
predictably and happily lost).

Both pithy and informative, this is The Cloudspotter's Guide meets Flora Britannica.