In this photo which is a first ever attempt which has remained on the farm as motivation to do better.
The pleaches have been done too far up the trunk, leaving gaps underneath. The problem with this is that over the next 30 years until the next time this hedge is layed, the Devon bank will erode downwards, at the same time, the still living pleach will send shoots upwards, blocking out the light and surpressing undergrowth at the same time. These three factors combine to leave gaps between the lays and the bank into which livestock can crawl and then make runs. This, in this case, is exacerpated by a very healthy rabbit population which all conspire to make this a barrier which is not sheep proof. The photo is taken from the road where sheep wander but thankfully so far have not thought to attempt to break through and on the inside, we have secondary fencing keeping the sheep in.
And another thing - if its needed, the layed trees were not staked down and their ends were left springing up, which was fairly insignificant when the ends were small but they then grew in that position and so now are a long bent stem - still growing, which is good, but ugly as anything.
We don't get the man with the flail in as when the hedges are allowed to grow up they give a nice straight undamaged stem for pleaching in 30 years time.
Thats all folks
Liz