The craft of traditional wattle fencing is my passion and what inspires me.

In this day and age it is easy to become transfixed on ‘all things modern’. Although there are certain technologies none of us could do without, there is something particularly special about traditional crafts like wattle hurdle making.

What’s involved?

Priding myself on craftsmanship, we make our hurdles the traditional way.

If you are searching for traditional wattle hurdles, Parsons & Sons offer a personal service which is second to none and delivered with true care and craftsmanship.

• Hazel is coppiced in a nine year cycle.
• The first year after it is cut, it lets the light in and so there is an abundance of native flora which regenerates.
• After the hazel is cut it is placed in a mould, with the uprights first and then the rest is split and woven in to make the hurdle.

My family have been making hurdles in this traditional way for five generations.

What are wattle hurdles used for?

Traditional wattle fencing have numerous uses and have been used historically for hundreds of years for different reasons.

From footings to roads and wattle and daub walls, to cathedrals, wattles have numerous uses. There is even a school of thought that says the stones used for Stonehenge were rolled to the site in wattle baskets!

Wattle hurdles were also used during the First World War in order to line the trenches to keep the mud down.

However, the more modern use for hurdles are river restoration projects.

We have worked on rivers such as the Cherwell, Avon, Nadder and many others, all of which required intricate river restoration techniques.

Hurdles are also used for garden fencing and our next project is at Chiswick on the Thames.

Our client has purchased three properties to convert to one and the garden is to be designed in the style of Gertrude Jekyll, a garden designer who lived from 1843 to 1932. All the wooden structures in the garden must be made by hand and we are really looking forward to being involved in this project.

Contact us to find out more about what we can offer you and your unique project.