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About

This 10-day assessed course provides you with a foundation in the skills required to independently construct and maintain Cornish Hedges.

By attending this Intermediate level assessed course, you will obtain in depth knowledge of how to construct a Cornish Hedge to a high standard.

The finer details

Your instructors will train you, providing assessment and feedback as you progress, and prepare you to work independently ready for the Practical Hedging test.

Within the course you will learn how to select and lay grounder stones to form the correct batter to start building a traditional Cornish Hedge.

You will learn how to select, grade and place stones correctly following the Code of Good Practice to form the correct Cornish hedge profile. Whilst constructing you will learn how to fill the hedge and ram the earth fill, forming a tight core within the hedge which gives the stability required for a long-lasting hedge.

Finally, you will learn how to turf top the hedge to give it its capping.

 

 

Delivery method

Training (with Assessment )

Recognised by

The Guild of Cornish Hedgers

Course description:

Certificate in Cornish Hedging - Intermediate Download PDF

Who should attend?

Suitable for those looking to embark on a career as a Cornish Hedger or that are regularly required to do hedging in their job and need advanced skills and knowledge.

Those in related professions or sectors i.e. Agriculture, Landscaping, Horticulture or Construction.

 

What will be covered?

By the end of the course learners will be able to:

  • Understand the ‘key concepts’ of Cornish Hedging, on both a theoretical and practical basis.
  • Apply the ‘key concepts’ when placing stones and infill into a hedge as the basis for building/repairing a Cornish Hedge.
  • Understand how to safely use the tools used in Cornish Hedging, and associated correct safety procedures.
  • Understand the procedure of Cornish Hedge building – placing Grounders, placing Hedgers, compacting infill and Topping-off.

Day 1:

The course will start with an introduction to the site and the area where the practical building will take place. This will be followed with a short presentation covering the following:

  • History of the Cornish Hedge, why it is unique as well as their cultural and environmental importance.
  • The theory and method of construction of a Cornish Hedge
  • The Guild of Cornish Hedgers ‘Code of good practice’
  • Tools of the trade and how to use them.
  • Safety talk – It is important that you pay particular attention during the safety talk and take the advice of the instructors during the course.
  • An explanation of how the course will be assessed.

Your instructor will answer any questions learners will move onto the training site to venture out and have a go.

The rest of the day will cover the practical construction as follows:

  • Selecting and moving grounders safely to the hedging area.
  • Laying grounders to follow the profile.
  • Collecting, placing and ramming the fill around the grounders ensuring grounders are stable and suitable for subsequent courses of stones.

Throughout the day the instructors will guide and discuss all elements of the construction process and answer any questions as they arise.

Day 2:

The day will start with a presentation about the construction skills required for the random course of the hedge – you will then move straight on to the practical tasks;

  • Setting profiles and string lines ready for construction ensuring it conforms to the required dimension.
  • Collect, sort and Place random course stones into the hedge ensuring interlocking and good contact whilst following the hedge profile
  • Collect and move fill to the hedging area.
  • Ram the earth centre ensuring stones do not push out and continue to stay in line with the profile.
  • Continue to collect, sort and place stones and fill in the random course.

Throughout the day the instructors will be guiding trainees and discussing all elements of the construction process and answer any questions as they arise.

Days 3 - 5:

On days 3 - 5 trainees will:

  • Continue placing Random Course stone and packing fill to reach the level line ready for the hedgers section.

Day 6 – 8:

On Days 6 -9 trainees will:

  • Be shown how to select suitable stone for use as hedgers from a stone pile.
  • Select and grade selected stone ready for each hedger layer.
  • Be shown how to and practice shaping hedgers stones.
  • Place hedgers onto the hedge.
  • Collect and move fill to the hedge.
  • Place fill into the hedge and ram - ensuring the profile is followed and that best practice is always used.

Throughout the days the instructors will be guiding trainees and discussing all elements of the construction process and answer any questions as they arise.

  • Day 9:

Following a discussion regarding the best practice for ramming and topping a hedge, trainees will:

  • Complete any hedgers as required to the top of the hedge.
  • Collect, place and compact fill up the top of the hedge.
  • Learn to dome and prepare the top of the hedge.
  • Cut, place and pin turf toppings.
  • Clear and tidy the working area - ensuring the area around the hedge is clear and any unused stone piled ready for future use.
  • Tools cleaned and ready for next use.Again, throughout the day the instructors will guide and discuss all elements of the construction process and answer questions as they arise.

 

On completion of day 9 there will be a debrief, of the weeks training, the opportunity for any further questions and a discussion about what will happen on the final test day.

Day 10Practical Hedging Test Day.

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