Laying a hedge

Since starting to rejuvenate our hedge, we wander the lanes looking at laid hedges, wondering if we can get the same result with our weedy little hedge.  I had thought that you needed to cut the stems with a knife or billhook, a clean blade, but my brother assures me that a pruning saw will do the trick just as well.

This looks like a very skilled job and I'm envious.  The hedge-layer has laid all the stems, thick and thin, old and new, and cut out any stems getting in the way.  The top growth that must have looked messy is on the other side of the fence.  Oh well, I have plenty of time . . .

Happy Christmas, everyone.