"Bristol Water said it wants to improve diverse wildlife at Blagdon Lake, a 440-acre reservoir and trout fishery in the Mendip Hills, Somerset.

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the work includes restoring thinning hedgerows by laying trimmed base stems horizontally.

Mike Reed, a hedge laying specialist, who is leading the team, said: "So many of our farmland and countryside birds are endangered, as are hedgehogs, so creating these spaces for them to live and nest in is more important than ever."

Reed added: "Hedge laying is a historical craft with a strong local tradition and I'm proud to be passing it onto the next generation through this work.""

Clara Bullock reports for BBC News March 8, 2026. [2]