Why are Cornish hedges called hedges when they are really walls?
A. The old English word for hedge was ‘hecg’ this meant a boundary, or an enclosed area, originally a ditch would have been dug and the soil and stone dug out, ‘cast’ upto form a bank, and to help keep animals in, this bank would have been made higher and stockproof, using material close at hand, either soil, or stone or a combination of the two and later shrubs would have been planted on top. Regional styles and preferences would have dictated how these ‘hedges’ developed. It has also been said, that most traditional Drystone walls are designed and constructed to prevent plants growing over, or on them, whereas a Cornish hedge is built with the exact opposite in mind. Many hedges have live plants, planted on top of them and within a few years little of the facing stone of the cornish hedge is visible, so in a sense the hedge is alive, unlike a wall.enquiries@cornish-hedges.co.ukenquiries@southwest-landscaping.co.ukPlease do feel free to contact us if you have any questions not address
