Hedge-cutting season officially opens on 1 September and will run until 28 February. During the closed period, or ‘nesting season’, the cutting, grubbing, burning and/or other destruction of vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch remains prohibited under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976.
However, grass verges or hedges in fields or along roadsides where overgrowth poses a road safety hazard can be cut all year round as outlined under section 70 of the Road Traffic Act 1993. This provision allows both landowners and public authorities to address hedges for road safety reasons at any time of the year.
When it comes to managing hedgerows, derogation farmers must remember that they have to comply with one of three options:
Leave a whitethorn or blackthorn tree to grow up every 300m and cut the remainder of the hedge on all three sides, if desired.Maintain hedgerows on a three-year cycle, cutting only one side of the hedge each year.Cut one-third of the hedges on the farm each year.Hedgerow management tips:
Only top hedges that have a good, thick base beneath them.A topped hedge should be maintained annually, with a light trimming of both the body and the top. This will allow it to continue to thicken up at the base and not allow leader branches to take over the hedge.Treeline hedgerows are designed to grow without the need for trimming. Combining both treeline and topped hedgerows on the farm is ideal, as it
ensures that some areas remain undisturbed, providing continuous habitats and food sources for wildlife, even in the winter.Plant a variety of native species in hedgerows, such as whitethorn, blackthorn and hazel. This enhances biodiversity and provides a range of resources for different species.