A NORTH Yorkshire farmer has diversified into supplying instant hedges.

Ricky Pearson-Adams, of Long Row Hedges at Stearsby, near Easingwold, has developed a scheme to grow bushes to full size before delivering them to the required sites.

The hedges are grown inside nets, placed in trenches and left for a three-year period, at which point they can be removed and transported for planting on other sites.

Patented two years ago, Mr Pearson-Adams's idea is now under trial, after gaining 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 700m-long hedge featuring beech, privet and leyland cypress.

Mr Pearson-Adams said the concept was particularly beneficial to anyone building or moving to a new house who wanted 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."

He originally contacted Roger Benson of Business Link York and North Yorkshire to find out if any grants were available for his project.

"Roger was fantastic in helping me build the case for winning the research and development micro grant," said Mr Pearson-Adams. "The application was something of a maze and I really could have not have done it without his help."

Mr Benson, who is still advising the business, was delighted to have been able to help. "It is a modern product that fits in completely with today's busy lifestyles and the 'we want it and we want it now' concept," he said.