Weather permitting, this week will see the start of major pruning work on the yew hedge maze in Bridge End Garden. Last year was the 40th anniversary of the replanting of the maze by Uttlesford District Council. Over the years it has become taller and wider creating narrow paths.
Now in the care of the Town Council, the Senior Gardener, Nathan Doe, said:
"The hedges started to slowly decline about six years ago. Every three years the maze is ‘terravented’ when compressed air is pumped into the compacted ground and a seaweed fertilizer injected. This was last done in 2022 but growth was not as vigorous as before. There is a dieback of stems in some areas and parts of the hedge have died.
"Soil samples were sent to the Forest Research service but no serious pathogens were found. On the advice of a number of specialists, 2024 saw the first year of what could be a 10-year programme, with the installation of an irrigation system, thanks to The Friends. This was accompanied by feeding with an organic fertilizer as well as mulching and there have been signs of improvement.
"Work this year will be the reduction in height to allow light into the centre of the plants. With over 600m of hedge to cut we may not get it all done this season but it’s a start. The works will not affect public access to the maze, which always closes between Christmas and Easter each year, and it will be open again this Easter."
You can donate to the Friends to help fund future Garden restoration works by going to our Donate page.