So why has Blackleach attracted so much hedge laying attention?  I'll let Rick Parker explain:

"Hedgerows are an important wildlife habitat that have declined significantly since 1945, it is estimated that by the mid 1960s 50,000 miles of hedges were destroyed, this was mostly due to intensive farming practices. The loss of hedgerows had a severe effect on wildlife, especially hedgerow nesting birds. To redress the problem the National Hedgerow Society was set up in the early 1970s to promote the conservation of hedges. Hedge laying has been an important part of BCV tasks for many years. In recent years the focal point of our hedge laying activity has been at Blackleach Country Park in Salford. The hedges there are between 10 and 15 years old, making them an ideal size for laying, allowing volunteers new to hedge laying to rapidly learn the ancient craft. Over the years many hundreds of metres of hedge has been laid at Blackleach by BCV. The Salford Warden Service has maintained bird feeding stations at key points on the hedge to encourage birds to nest. The combination of good nesting habitat, and abundant food, has led to a dramatic increase in the diversity and numbers of nesting bird. Blackleach provides a model example of how hedgerows can and should be managed to attract and support wildlife."