For many years, the village of Chideock in Dorset has welcomed visitors with a neatly trimmed hedge spelling out the village’s name. This hedge, located in Fosse Orchard car park, has been a unique landmark. However, a recent hedge-cutting blunder by council workers has left the village name incomplete...
Overgrown Hedge Leads to Overzealous Trimming
Upon arrival, council workers found the hedge overgrown and in need of maintenance. While carrying out the trimming, the workers inadvertently cut off the last two letters of “Chideock,” leaving the hedge to spell “Chideo” instead. This overzealous trimming was an unintentional error caused by the hedge’s unrecognisable state due to the overgrowth.
Letters 'c' and 'k' cut away by mistake...
Chideock Parish Council Apologises for the Error
Chideock Parish Council has issued a formal apology to the village’s 700 residents. In a social media statement, Councillor Aidan Biggins shared an email from the clerk of Bridport Town Council explaining the mistake. The email clarified that one of the maintenance workers was unaware of the hedge’s sculpted lettering due to its overgrown condition.
Council Offers to Restore the Damaged Hedge
The council expressed their willingness to work with Chideock Parish Council to restore the hedge to its original form. However, they acknowledged that the restoration might be challenging. The clerk added: “We will be happy to work with the parish council to see what can reasonably be done to restore the lettering – although I appreciate this will not be straightforward.”
Residents Respond with Relief
Chideock residents were relieved to hear that the error was a simple human mistake and not an act of vandalism. Local resident Anna Dunn expressed her gratitude, writing: “Thanks for letting us know – solves the mystery of whether it was vandalism, but one thing one cannot insure for is personal error.”
Council to Repair Chideock’s Iconic Hedge
Despite the blunder, the council has taken responsibility and plans to work with the parish to repair the damage. The iconic hedge spelling out Chideock may take some time to be restored, but the community is understanding and grateful that the issue was promptly addressed.
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