A couple of firsts

A career path?

During the past couple of weeks I have closed out my small involvement with one project that may have significant consequences for future arboricultural students and those in the industry.   The exercise that I undertook was to look at the range of qualifications that are available to the “learner” for want of a better word, and to put them into a number of pots – for example what QCF Level might they be at, who might they suit?

High hedges

Another first for me was to become involved in the analysis of a boundary hedge that might fall under the definition of a ‘high hedge’ as given in Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, i.e.

‘so much of a barrier to light or access as:

(a)    is formed wholly or predominantly by a line of two or more evergreens; and

(b)   rises to a height of more than two metres above ground level.’

I was using the DCLG’s guidance in Hedge height and light loss template and came to the conclusion that consideration ought to be given to reducing the hedge’s height to avert the possibility of blocking too much daylight and sunlight to adjoining properties.   The guidance applies to the neighbour’s property in its entirety, not simply the house but the garden too, and does not make a general provision for a lower hedge near the house and a taller hedge down the garden path.