Twenty five competitors from the age of fifteen to over sixty in four classes - Championship, Open, Novice and Junior/Young Farmer - from all over South Cumbria, North Lancashire and Yorkshire completed some excellent sections of hedge laying. 170 metres of newly laid hedge along the side of the A65 are testament to the competitor's sweat and hard work.

The top Open class winner was Robert Bell from Kendal who also claimed the Best Hedge on the Day prize. The top placed young farmer was Craig Proctor from Selside in a strong class of seven competitors.

Jack Ellerby, Policy Officer with Friends of the Lake District said: "The quality of the hedge laying never fails to impress and it was terrific to see the young farmers class grow in size. Some of our professional hedgers have given them training and shared their expertise. It is so important to retain traditional countryside skills into the future.

"Our competition brings more people into hedge laying in our local style, helps to raise the standard of work and leads to much more hedge laying taking place. In turn this helps keep our hedgerows healthy and enhances our magnificent landscape."

Results from the four Classes were as follows:

Championship:1st -Robert Bell (Kendal) - plus Best Overall Hedge on the Day
2nd - Henry Kirkwood (Endmoor)
3rd - Peter Gibson (Kendal)

Open: 1st - Dariusz Kownacki (Burneside)
2nd - William Hodgson (Grayrigg)
3rd - Heather Swift (Leyland)

Novice: 1st - Anthony Wood (Hale)
2nd - Stephen Wragg (Sheffield)
3rd - Peter Freeman (Southport)

Junior/Young Farmer:
1st - Craig Proctor (Selside)
2nd - Henry Knowles (Grayrigg)
3rd - Jack Carradice (Selside)

Judges: Keith Allen, Peter Edmondson and Gordon Strickland. Local MP Tim Farron awarded the prizes.

The hedge laying was done in the Westmorland and Lancashire style, characteristic to this part of the country. Friends of the Lake District's annual hedging competition is part of a regional grand prix of five competitions also run in Lancashire.