DOZENS of skilled craftsman from across the country competed for the annual North Cotswolds Hedgelaying Competition trophy on Saturday.

The competition, organised by the Cotswolds Conservation Board (CCB) and supported by the National Hedgelaying Society and the Prince’s Trust, took place at Fosse Cross, near Calmsden, Gloucestershire.

To be in with a chance of winning, the 27 participants had to cut and lay a section of hedge up to ten yards in length in the Midland style, one of the most commonly used styles in the Cotswolds, between 9am and 2pm.

Judging was then carried out by representatives of the National Hedgelaying Society who looked for specific aspects of hedgelaying, including cut and pleach, stake and heatherings, back of hedge and general appearance.

The winner was Rob Thompson, having competed in the event for the last 15 years. He said: “It was a great pleasure to win for the first-time.

“It is the most prestigious competition of its kind there is. I was in the open category which is the highest level and has an impact on the judges’ scoring. But competitors of all levels enter each year.”

He added: “It was a bitterly cold day and we were all very exposed to the weather, feeling very cold, but everyone managed to finish in time which we should all be very pleased with.”

Rob, 53, from Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, has been a commercial hedgelayer for more than twenty years, competing every year since the competition began, finishing second on a number of occasions.

“I’m normally in the top three each year,” he said. “I had a bit of a minor panic at one stage when I realised I was running a little behind schedule. In previous years I’ve got my timings a bit off but it all worked out fine in the end and I finished with around five minutes to spare.”

David Malloy, rural skills and grants officer for the CCB, who organises the annual competition, said: “We were very pleased with the level of the Midlands style hedgelaying on show on Saturday from all 27 competitors.

“Last year a very high standard was set and this year everyone certainly did themselves and the CCB very proud.”

Mr Malloy said the competition and support from the likes of the Prince’s Trust, as well as courses offered by the CCB aim to encourage the next generation of hedgelayers to emerge.

Rob, who also works as a fencer and landscaper during the summer, said that it can be very difficult these days to encourage young people to take-up hedgelaying.

“The problem is that it is a winter job, so for six months of the year hedgelayers have to find something else to do. That suits me because you never really get bored of doing one thing. Hedgelaying is definitely my favourite job because it’s what I’m best at.”

Visit cotswoldsruralskills.org.uk for more information and courses.