#powis castle

Powis Castle, Welshpool,  Powys, United Kingdom,

Powis Castle, Wales

2, 4. Statue of Fame

Powis’ famous yew tumps and hedges are almost 300 years old and their unusual shape tells the story of changing fashions in the horticultural world.

When they were originally planted in the 18th century, the yews were clipped into small, formal cones or pyramids. However by the end of the century English landscape gardening, made popular by figures such as 'Capability' Brown, had become popular and our yew hedges were allowed to grow naturally and become more ‘tree-like’.

This lasted until formal gardening made resurgence in the Victorian era and the yews were once more clipped back into shape giving them the unusual structure that is still so striking to visitors today.

^cutting the 14-meter-high yew at Powis

Until relatively recently, it took 10 men a full four months to clip all the box and yew hedges.

They used hand shears and balanced on very long ladders, tied together where necessary, to reach the top of the taller yews. Powered shears make all the difference and reduce the task considerably.

^Clipping the yew hedge with hand shears, photo by David Evans

Powis Castle, Wales

Hedge trimming the 300 year old yew hedge - Until relatively recently, it took 10 men a full four months to clip all the box and yew hedges. They used hand shears and balanced on very long ladders, tied together where necessary, to reach the top of the taller yews. Powered shears make all the difference and reduce the task considerably. Now 'Two gardeners spend six weeks trimming the box hedge and two more spend 12 weeks working on the yew. One gardener spends about 10 weeks in the air on this hydraulic cherry-picker getting all the high trimming done.'