Words from the Hedge is a passionate evocation of the history, beauty and importance of our hedgerows by a craftsman who has been laying hedges for almost three decades and has the scars to prove it.

Hedges are as old as civilisation and as emblematic of the British countryside as chalk streams, hay meadows and oak trees. But unlike woodland and rivers, farmland hedges remain on the periphery of the public consciousness, often going unnoticed and almost always underappreciated. Wielding his pen as deftly he does a billhook, professional hedgelayer Richard Negus takes us on a journey that reveals these ribbons of thorn and barb are so much more than mere decoration or boundary markers. They are essential for much-needed wildlife recovery. If we don’t get our hedges right, there is little hope for species like the almost-extinct turtledove.

And yet, no hedge is truly 'wild'; each one is a testament to generations of human skill and labour, requiring ongoing maintenance to survive and thrive. But there is a problem: we need more hedgelayers, and this is something Negus is trying to solve.

Introducing a lively band of fellow countrymen and countrywomen along the way, Negus explores everything from the practical complexities of modern farming and land ownership to the challenges faced by conservationists. Written with vigour and humour, as well as rare insight and honesty, Words from the Hedge is a timely exploration of how we can use hedges to make the British countryside a place where nature has a home.

'Richard Negus is the best kind of history teacher' 

'A joyful and illuminating read'

'He knows his stuff, because he does the stuff'

'A beautiful evocation of the quiet drama of hedges'

'Negus has exceptional skills of observation' 

'Heartfelt and hands-on'

Richard Negus is a former soldier and professional horseman. He now lays hedges for a living and is recognised as one of the country’s leading exponents and practitioners of hedgerow management and rejuvenation.

He co-hosts a weekly podcast, Countryslide, covering British rural life and work, and writes for publications including the Daily Telegraph, Country Life, The Critic and Scribehound. 

He lives in Suffolk.