Janet Baraclough wrote in
:

A spindly 5ft hedge won't thicken at the bottom,(where you most want
it for future shaping when it's either 4 or 10 ft high) so you are
probably looking at some severe surgery in a year or so. But let it
establish some root system first.

Thanks both for your replies. Looks like I will leave it to mature this
year then next feb / march I'll chop the tops off.

Cheers!
Jimbo.