Lay a hedge

This standard covers the activities required to lay a hedge.

It involves identifying the species of the plant that you are working with and determining the purpose of the hedge. You must also have knowledge of other hedgerow species and the characteristics of those species and their suitability for hedging.

You must determine the style of hedge to be laid and the effect this will have on the way that you work. While you may work predominantly with one style you must also be aware of other regional styles.

When working with equipment and machinery you must be appropriately trained, and hold current certification where required, in line with the relevant legislation.

Your work must conform to all relevant legislation codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

1. obtain the relevant information to carry out the work activities in accordance with organisational procedures
2. check any statutory requirements that might be in place that may prohibit or place conditions on the work to be carried out and confirm all required permissions and licences have been obtained
3. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with current legislation and codes of practice
4. assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity, checking and confirming the findings of any existing risk assessments
5. select the safest working methods, making use of mechanical methods where this is safer, in accordance with the assessed risks, and plan work accordingly
6. confirm that the relevant training and certification is in place when using mechanical equipment
7. confirm that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
8. select, prepare, use, maintain and store the tools and equipment required safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
9. confirm all equipment has been checked and is fit for purpose in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer's instructions
10. identify the main purpose of the hedge and the plant species it contains
11. determine the style in which the hedge-laying will take place, taking account of regional variances
12. measure the length of the hedge to be laid and estimate the materials required
13. check for the presence of utility cables and fencing
14. identify and agree which hedgerow trees are to be retained, and if any special protection measures exist
15. estimate the number of plants required to restock the gaps
16. obtain the materials required for the work
17. identify the direction in which the hedge will be laid and where laying will commence
18. remove dead wood and other unwanted materials
19. select, cut and lay pleachers at the correct angle, maintaining viable hinges and reducing stumps appropriately
20. fill gaps as appropriate
21. sharpen and install stakes at determined spacing, bind the hedge and trim off the stakes, in accordance with the style of hedging
22. remove all waste and surplus materials and deal with them as specified
23. minimise damage or disturbance to the site and surrounding area while carrying out the work, and confirm that the site is left in a safe and tidy condition
24. implement best practice approaches to sustainability that are appropriate for the work being carried out

1. how to identify and access information relevant to the required work
2. how to identify hazards and assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out and the importance of site-specific risk assessment and control measures that are relevant to your area of work
3. the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW), including lone working where appropriate
4. current legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance, organisational policies, procedures and protocols, business and professional ethics that are relevant to your area of work, and to which you must adhere
5. the legal, industry and organisational requirements for training and certification when using mechanical equipment
6. the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the work and how to safely, prepare, use, carry out operator maintenance and store these, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
7. the legal requirements for checking equipment and why it is important to maintain all equipment to a high standard
8. hedgerow species and their characteristics
9. the most appropriate time of year to carry out hedge-laying, depending on the local climate and the effect of frost on the pleachers
10. the effect of your work on wildlife habitats, such as during the bird-nesting season
11. the reasons for laying hedges
12. who to contact regarding the presence of utility cables
13. the different styles of hedge-laying and regional variances
14. the different tools and methods of undertaking hedge laying
15. the appropriate length and diameter of stems to use as pleachers
16. the types and sources of binders and stakes available
17. how to obtain the materials required for the work
18. the correct methods of dealing with waste and surplus materials in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
19. the potential impact of the work on the site and surrounding area and how this can be minimised
20. your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably
21. the importance of checking that completed work meets requirements in accordance with the information provided

The purposes of hedge-laying includes:
• biodiversity
• stock proofing
• maintaining the landscape

Information required to carry out work activities could include:
• drawings
• plans
• schedules
• specifications
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturer’s instructions
• customer requirements
• quality assurance requirements
• industry standards (e.g. British Standards)
• verbal or written instructions
• industry guidance (e.g. FISA)

Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)

Safe System of Work (SSoW) – is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.