The long awaited day, mid September, managed to stay dry for the NHLS Standard Setting day at Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire.
New and experienced assessors came together from across the country to cut and review each of the ten styles, which will form the basis of the society’s accreditation scheme. In time, it is hoped that some of the less common styles will be incorporated into the accreditation scheme to keep them alive and recognised.
Safety, marking, feedback and paperwork were all dicussed and clarified to ensure consistency, nationally, amongst the assessors.
The day also allowed for some formal assessments to take place and, as a result, some cutters were awarded silver or gold accreditations which now appear on their contractor card on the Find a Hedgelayer map.
The day, which was overseen by chairman Steve Budding, was praised for being well organised, bringing cutters together to progress the updated and professionalised process of conducting assessments.