a hedge is a futures deal that defrays potential loss caused by fluctuating prices of commodities a producer who anticipates a drop in her product’s value can sell futures at the commodity’s current price this is called a ‘short hedge’ a consumer who fears that prices will rise can buy futures at the goods’ present cost this is termed a ‘long hedge’ the long and the short of it is to surround businesses’ enclosures and stop stock from wandering off but for wildlife a hedge is a road not a barrier earwigs and weasels crawl along its length but especially boggarts zigzagging from hedge to hedge down the field boundary faster than eyes can catch turning deals sour in the churn of prices round and round guarded from interference by dense hawthorn where darkness pools how will you banish the boggart from your fields

• try to catch him in a cobweb
• cut gaps in the hedgerow to stop the boggart in his tracks