Cornish hedges are claimed to be amongst the oldest human-built structures in the world still in use for their original purpose – and now people are being given the chance to learn the art for themselves.

Golden Tree Productions, the team behind the famous Man Engine, has just launched the Outdoor University of Cornish Hedging.

They are inviting people to take part in building Kerdroya: The Cornish Landscape Labyrinth, which is currently being created by Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor.

Built of traditional Cornish hedging with a 56m diameter, Kerdroya is a major new piece of public land art built on a disused carpark site in the middle of Bodmin Moor.

When complete, visitors will have a fully immersive experience as they walk a single, meandering path through stretches of artisan stonework celebrating the aesthetics of distinct hedging styles, celebrating all 12 sections of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in their 60th anniversary year.

It is expected to take between 50 and 100 to mature – and 4,000 years to be fully 'finished.'

READ MORE:

Now the extensive training programme being offered, which will be supported by the Guild of Cornish Hedgers and funded by Cornwall Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will pass the ancient craft of hedging to the next generation, giving participants the opportunity to be part of the skilled team constructing the Kerdroya labyrinth.

Tamsin Daniel, heritage service manager at Cornwall Council, said: "The Outdoor University of Cornish Hedging will address the dire shortage of expertise in the preservation of existing hedges and the building of new hedges, in the styles that are unique to each area of Cornwall.

"The project will transfer skills to a wide pool of people, providing employment and training opportunities whilst ensuring that there is a new generation of people across our community safeguarding the future of Cornwall's hedges, truly a cultural treasure."

An aerial shot of the labyrinth Picture: James Dadzitis/SWNS

An aerial shot of the labyrinth Picture: James Dadzitis/SWNS

There are two, five and ten-day Lantra accredited training courses available, as well as the full Guild of Cornish Hedgers Advanced Certificate in Cornish Hedging. All courses will be run by a qualified, fully trained Guild of Cornish Hedgers professional, with teaching ratios of 1:6 and 1:4.

Members of the public can book themselves directly onto courses and organisations can email for custom dates and group discounts. A number of pre-allocated funded places will be provided in partnership with the Department for Work & Pensions and local colleges.

Those interested in the training can visit http://hedgetraining.co.uk/ for dates, prices and full course information.

Will Coleman, artist director of Golden Tree and pioneer of the project, said that thanks to the funding, which also includes money from Cornwall AONB, Arts Council England, Cornwall Heritage Trust and FEAST, the groundwork had now been completed and the ‘grounders’ (Cornish hedge foundation boulders) put in place.

Director Will Coleman is behind the labyrinth being built at Bodmin Moor in Cornwall Picture: James Dadzitis/SWNS

Director Will Coleman is behind the labyrinth being built at Bodmin Moor in Cornwall Picture: James Dadzitis/SWNS

He added: “We are now inviting one and all to join us at the Outdoor University of Cornish Hedging to finish creating Kerdroya, a living testament to culture, habitat and skill.

"Not only can you be part of building one of the largest classical labyrinths in the world, you will be part of a project that will support tens of thousands of species of insects and pollinators, plus 600 types of flowering plants – it’s a deep investment in Cornwall’s future."

Golden Tree is also welcoming donations of stone from the 12 AONB sections across Cornwall. These donations will be incorporated into the labyrinth’s 12 stretches of artisan stonework, each of which celebrates a distinct Cornish hedging style.

For more information or to make a stone donation of more than five tonne contact Eve Brown on eve@goldentree.org.uk or 01209 206169.

Neither a ‘hedgerow’ nor a ‘dry stone wall’, the Cornish hedge is a stone-faced bank with a rammed earth core. Some hedges have been scientifically dated to around 4,000 years old.

The prototype based on an historic carving near Tintagel Castle Picture: James Dadzitis/SWNS

The prototype based on an historic carving near Tintagel Castle Picture: James Dadzitis/SWNS