November 6th 1999

Hedge removal

Hedge removal, the neglect of hedges and excessive and untimely trimming are emotive issues. Much of the difficulties arise from a lack of awareness and appreciation of the importance of hedges to wildlife. Good hedges act as mini woodlands, providing cover, food and resting and nesting sites for a wide range of wildlife.

This is in addition to their landscape value and agricultural benefits of shelter, stock proof barriers and control of soil erosion.

Measure 5 of REPS rcovers field boundaries, including hedges. Your farm map should have all field boundaries marked and your plan will include a rotational management regime for the hedges. Your planner may have prioritised your hedge maintenance work, depending on the scale of the farm and condition of hedges. Hedges with ecological value eg ones that have a good diversity of species or act as wildlife corridors may have priority.

Check out your plan before trimming any hedge. Make sure that the correct hedges listed for maintenance by year are involved. Failure to maintain hedges to plan specifications or the use of herbicides or fertilisers in the 1.5 metre buffer zones entail penalties of 20 per cent.

Trimming of hedges is precluded during the nesting season - late February to late August. Do not hasten to trim hedges in the autumn for they act as a larder of berries and nuts for wildlife over the winter. From a wildlife perspective the best time to trim hedges is in late winter but ground conditions may not accommodate it.

Do not trim hedges to within an inch of their lives. Rather go for a light trim. Target bulky mixed species hedge of about 2 metres high. Make sure that the contractor knows your requirements. These should cover both the extent of trimming and the protection of selected whips and trees in the hedge.