West Country Hedgelayer
A converted Bedford TK Horsebox.
Paul Lamb is a master hedgelayer, hurdle maker and author who has spent over 25 years refining his craft across the West Country. Over the past 6 years, he has been living in his converted Bedford TK horsebox. He has had a Hobbit in his horsebox from the start, and in his words, ‘it heats the space in here quickly and efficiently, the stove is very much the heart of this home!’ Using age-old hand tools, Paul restores and crafts living boundaries that nurture wildlife, curb soil erosion, and help maintain the distinctive landscape of the British countryside. He moves with the seasons across the region, laying hedges and weaving hazel hurdles in tune with the natural world—a practice shaped by deep respect for the land and an intimate understanding of its cycles. His work is steeped in tradition, drawing on centuries of rural knowledge and refined by a lifetime of hands-on experience.
Beyond the physical craft, Paul is dedicated to keeping the heritage of hedgelaying alive. Once essential to agricultural life and now increasingly rare, this rural skill holds ecological, cultural, and historical importance. Through workshops, public demonstrations, and direct teaching, he shares his expertise in the hope of inspiring others to carry the practice forward. His book Of Thorn & Briar and his Instagram presence @westcountry_hedgelayer offer a window into this disappearing art, but his most enduring contribution lives on in the landscapes he shapes and the people he mentors.
His horsebox has recently gone through a refurbishment, and one thing he knew he couldn’t live without was his Hobbit Stove! Included in the refurb was a mollycroft roof to allow more light into the living space, a pitch pine floor, oak panelling & shelving. He retained the oak kitchen unit and Belfast sink & the pine desk, which he uses for writing. The seating was an old arm chair in front of the fire, but left no room for visitors so he installed an oak seating area and added cushions to make it more comfortable to welcome guests.
