THE Bookery, in partnership with Sustainable Crediton, is delighted to welcome acclaimed hedgelayer and writer Paul Lamb at 7pm on Thursday, April 9.

He will join Professor Richard Brazier in conversation to discuss his powerful memoir Of Thorn and Briar, an intimate portrait of a year spent travelling the West Country and restoring Britain’s ancient hedgerows by hand. 

In his book, Paul traces the rhythm of the seasons from late summer until the bird's nest in spring, living in his traditional wagon and working alone across the South West to maintain the living boundaries of the British countryside.

Hedgerows—these “linear woodlands”—have declined dramatically as traditional management techniques have been lost to modernisation, making Paul’s work vital to preserving fragile wildlife corridors and the ecosystems they sustain.

Hedgelaying is a centuries-old craft requiring precision, patience, and an intimate understanding of the landscape.

Each hedge is worked by hand, stem by stem, cutting part through the living wood and laying it over so new growth can flourish.

As Paul travels the West Country, he restores boundaries that have shaped rural life for generations, creating living structures that shelter birds, mammals and insects while protecting fields from wind and erosion.

His deeply rooted way of life has resonated widely, including among more than 195,000 followers of his @westcountry_hedgelayer account, where he documents the quiet beauty of Britain’s hedgerows.

Professor Richard Brazier is the founder and Director of the University of Exeter’s Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW).

His research spans a wide range of subjects including landscape restoration science, ecology, soil health, water quality, drought and flooding.

At the end of the evening, Paul will be available to discuss his work, answer questions and sign copies Of Thorn and Briar.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from The Bookery or via our website: www.thebookery.org.uk.