A NORTH YORKSHIRE farmer is betting his hedges.

Ricky Pearson-Adams, of Long Row Hedges, at Stearsby, near Easingwold, has developed an innovative scheme to ensure that lush greenery is no longer just the domain of more established properties, by bringing mature hedges to new gardens in an instant

With guidance from Business Link York and North Yorkshire, he grows bushes to full size before delivering them to the required sites.

The hedges are grown inside nets, placed in trenches and left for three years.

Then they can be removed and transported for planting elsewhere.

Patented two years ago, Mr Pearson-Adams's innovation is now under trial after Business Link adviser Roger Benson helped him achieve a DTI-sponsored Research and Development Micro Award.

The £18,000 grant has contributed towards advice from scientists in addition to the experiment itself: the planting of a 700-metre hedge featuring beech, privet and leylandii cypress.

Ricky said: "This concept is particularly beneficial to anyone who is building or moving to a new house and wants a fully-grown garden immediately.

"As regards builders, hedges give added value to a property, providing security, making the garden more attractive and giving off a well-established appearance."

Updated: 11:16 Tuesday, September 07, 2004