Of Thorn & Briar : A Year with the West Country Hedgelayer

Sue says about Of Thorn and Briar: 
"Spend a year in the company of Paul Lamb as he travels the lanes of the West Country in his converted horse box, using his craft and skill to preserve the hedgerows and thereby promoting the wildlife that uses them".

Paul Lamb is a hedgelayer. He lives in his wagon and works to the rhythm of the seasons, a way of life that has almost vanished. From the end of summer until the birds nest in the spring, he travels the south-west corner of England, maintaining the ancient boundaries of our nation.

As traditional management techniques are lost to modernisation, hedgerows and the wildlife they support have declined dramatically. Paul has devoted decades to saving and rejuvenating this important but often forgotten part of Britain's countryside.

Of Thorn & Briar is Paul’s spellbinding account of living in partnership with the land, practising his craft with skill and preserving our heritage for future generations. Once you’ve read it, you will never look at the humble hedgerow in the same way again.

Author: Lamb, Paul
South West England
Published on 26 March 2026 by Simon & Schuster Ltd in the United Kingdom.
Paperback / softback | 304 pages, none
129 x 199 x 21 | 222g