Hedge cutting Laws

[wilson83]

Hi,

I need some advice urgently. My husband and I were due to cut my great uncles hedge this Easter weekend. My husband is a professional landscaper, and has just been told of a new law that has come into force that states between the easter Friday and September it is illegal to do ANY hedge cutting on commercial or residential areas due to nesting season for birds. The fine is �5000 and/or 6mths inprisonment.

I have looked this up on the internet and I can only find information of hedge cutting whist WILD birds are nesting.

As my husband is in the buisness he would get into serious trouble.

Please help!

[Robinia]

oh heck! My hedge man's not going to be too chuffed if it's true!
I've only found the same info as you have, which I already knew - there's nothing on the RSPB site & you'd think that there would be if it was so.
It seems a bit much anyway, to my knowledge there are no birds nesting in my area in Sept. (Derbyshire).

You could try asking in Animals & nature - some of the 'birdy' people might know.

[Hawkwalk]

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/garden hedges/the_law.asp

this is the only info I am aware of. Who told your husband about this new law?

My advice would be to contact DEFRA and ask them.

[pikzee]

Out of curiosity where you told of this law on April 1st?! My husband is a Landscape Gardener too and we know a few others and a couple of Garden Centre owners. No one has heard of it.

[wilson83]

Thanks for your reply. Thought I would let you know that it has been sorted. We contacted our local council and the environment agency who were very helpful and they all said that you can cut hedges, BUT you cannot remove or destroy a birds nest . If there is a nest in the hedge you have to cut around it and leave it until the have flown.

Oh and no he wasnt told on April 1st, my husband's boss told him on the 5th, from an email the company had received.

[woofgang]

RSPB says March to August
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/planting/hedges/the_law.aspx