Whilst watching the skilled and enthusiastic participants of the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt Hedge-laying competition (sponsored by Church House), I was struck by the parallels between this ancient craft and the management of long-term savings. 

What occurred to me immediately was that, to flourish, both need expert help.  

It doesn’t take a very practised eye to spot an ancient hedge-line that, through neglect, has become a straggly line of wind-bent trees serving no useful purpose. Contrast this with a properly laid hedge that becomes a living barrier and haven for nesting birds and other wildlife. Since the enclosures, expert hedge-layers know from experience how to ‘read’ a hedgeline, selecting the best stems to cut near the base, then bending or laying them level with the ground so they continue to grow, sprouting new stems and creating a dense structure over time. The purpose of this work is to build something for the long-term. The reward for regular stewardship is a healthy hedge that provides sanctuary for wildlife and a barrier to livestock. 

Focusing on the long-term is at the heart of successful investing. The characteristics of investment management done well are like those seen in hedge-laying: expertise built from experience, knowledge from observation, combined with targeted stewardship that builds long-term resilience. 

I will finish by thanking the event organisers, the Blackmore & Spark Vale Hunt and congratulating the winners. With rural communities and their livelihoods under increased pressure, it is wonderful to see this important craft in action and the many individuals, both young and old, who are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing our countryside.