Hedges

Hi readers, Emily and Kerry here with me, Kerry talking hedges! As I wrote a few weeks ago, I’ve really enjoyed wandering into town this summer- admiring the flowers, listening to the birds and enjoying the lovely greenery.

It’s starting to come with a downside though. Even with little rain this year, the hedges have grown wildly, spilling out onto pavements - making access difficult for people in wheelchairs.

With some pavements already sloping or uneven, I often find myself hanging on for dear life. Add in overgrown hedges (or roadworks, but let’s not go there today...), my just-manageable pleasant stroll becomes a right obstacle course. One day my wheelchair really will tip over - then I’ll be in a proper muddle!

Turns out I’m not grumbling alone. This week I bumped into a lovely elderly gentleman who walked with a stick. As we stopped to let him pass, we got chatting and learnt he loves being outdoors too. He also struggles with overgrown hedges, and has to increasingly walk on the pavement edge, much too close to the road for his comfort.

So, I know councils are stretched and must prioritise urgent jobs like potholes, bins or the like. But with these hedges becoming a nuisance, I’m increasingly tempted to grab some shears, a few able-bodied friends - and tackle the hedges ourselves!  What puts me off is there’ll probably be people up in arms about us not having the right training, following health and safety rules or paperwork or something else – so I feel ready to give up before I’ve even started!

I’m going to find out if there are easier, simpler ways for communities and councils to prioritise things like this. In the meantime, winter will soon be here, so I’ll probably find something else to worry about like icy pavements!

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff