Hedge cutting season

[benedmonds]

I know we all cut domestic hedges all year round, but farmers are not allowed to cut during:

 

"The bird breeding season,

1 March to 31 July, should always be

avoided: nearly every hedgerow in the

country will have birds breeding in it

during this time. Some birds continue

breeding into August. All wild birds,

their young, their eggs and active

nests are protected under law. It is an

offence to damage a nest

intentionally while it is in use or being

built – hedge cutting is highly likely to

damage nests or cause them to be

deserted."

 

We've a developer who has a bout 500m of hawthorn/elder hedge that he wants us to cut, it's too big to flail so we'd be doing it with chainsaws and hedgetrimmers, we're booked up till the start of the nesting season, can we do it? or are we to late?

[Dean Lofthouse]

I know we all cut domestic hedges all year round, but farmers are not allowed to cut during:

 

"The bird breeding season,

1 March to 31 July, should always be

avoided: nearly every hedgerow in the

country will have birds breeding in it

during this time. Some birds continue

breeding into August. All wild birds,

their young, their eggs and active

nests are protected under law. It is an

offence to damage a nest

intentionally while it is in use or being

built – hedge cutting is highly likely to

damage nests or cause them to be

deserted."

 

We've a developer who has a bout 500m of hawthorn/elder hedge that he wants us to cut, it's too big to flail so we'd be doing it with chainsaws and hedgetrimmers, we're booked up till the start of the nesting season, can we do it? or are we to late?

 

There is no season now, there is just a best time when birds are less likely to be sitting

[gibbon]

I would try to re-arrange work to get it done in Feb or leave it till the end of the summer. If its just a tickle you may be alright, otherwise it will be a scrambled egg special.

[John Hancock]

just walk the hedge before hand, if they are nesting...walk away.

[garth mc garth]

ben havent you got a saw blade for your hedgecutter, we can cut up to 18inch in single cut with ours

[scudmonster]

I agree with you john. survey the hedge for nesting birds and inform client its illegal to disturb/ damage nests with birds on eggs.

[Quickthorn]

What John said..those dates are for farmers who are in SFP, I think..the March cutoff date is for flailing, but they also say you can lay hedges into April as a last resort, providing you don't disturb anything as per C&WA.

 

If it has to be done, and you can cope with the hassle, I've heard that some people net hedges around now to keep birds from getting in and nesting, then they do the work as and when..could that be an option?