Pheonix Hedge to rise again

Plans are continuing to restore the Phoenix Hedge - the oldest hedge in Henleaze - which runs between Phoenix Grove and Henleaze Park.

As no-one claims to own this hedge several residents have taken action, clearing out brambles and dead wood and taking many full dumpy bags to the recycling depot.

At half term the row of Leylandii in the school field was felled and now the living hedge can be seen - every plant revelling in the light after suffering for so long in dense shade. It has been heartening to see the wild rose again and plenty of the spindle which indicates that the hedge is over 400 years old.

By next winter it should respond to professional management by a hedger who would do the hazardous work and direct volunteers to do some of the laying.

The schools are looking forward to using this wonderful resource to inspire many lessons in maths, observation, recording and art. It will be a costly exercise to regenerate such a neglected hedge but worth it to maintain the oldest living thing in Henleaze.

Funding will be sought from several sources once estimates of the cost have been supplied.