The new National Highways Sector Scheme 18 for Landscape and the Environment, including Ecology, is to be officially launched by the Rt Hon The Lord Heseltine CH at this years IOG SALTEX.

Lord Heseltine has a keen interest in landscaping and is creating his own arboretum at his home in Northamptonshire. He has been invited by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and members of the tri-party working group (BALI, Lantra Awards and City & Guilds NPTC) responsible for coordinating industry contributions to the Scheme document and its future administration to launch the scheme during his first visit to IOG SALTEX.

National Highways Sector Scheme 18 is a bespoke management system for landscaping and the environment (including ecology) that will be a contractual requirement for organisations engaged by the Highways Agency in England, Transport Wales, Transport Scotland and Roads Service Northern Ireland to work on their highway estates.

Implementation on Highways Agency contracts begins on 1st August 2008 and contractors who currently work for the Highways Agency will have a period of grace during which time they must gain full certification through one of the approved certification bodies. The scheme is particularly concerned with the development of training and competency of operatives and their supervisors and the identification and development of best practice, including health and safety requirements.

It is anticipated that other organisations in the UK, such as local authorities, utilities companies and developers, will adopt the new scheme, helping to raise standards across the landscaping, grounds maintenance, arboricultural and land management sectors.

The launch takes place at IOG SALTEX, Royal Windsor Racecourse, at 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday 3rd September.