Farmers will be allowed to cut and flail hedgerows from 1 September 2018.

According to section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended by the Wildlife (amendment) Act 2000, it shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches during the period beginning on the first day of March and ending on the 31st day of August.

During the summer, the Heritage Bill was passed, which, in time, will allow limited hedge-cutting in August and controlled burning in March. However, these changes did not come into force in 2018 because the implementation regulations were not in place.

Cutting a hedge properly

Farmers and contractors planning on carrying out hedge-cutting should be mindful of potential dangers around overhead electricity wires, stay wires and poles.

Flying debris is a real issue for both the operator and someone in the vicinity when using either circular saws or flail cutters.

Appropriate mesh or sheeting should be placed around the windows of the tractor.

Warning signs should be erected to alert people of the potential dangers and onlookers should be kept away from the operation.

It is important to do the job in such a way that the hedge will be beneficial for wildlife and also be a stock-proof fence.

The hedge should be side-trimmed and cut into a triangle shape, with the base slightly wider than the top.

This way, more light will get to the lower branches, which, given time, should thicken.

Having dense cover at the base creates a better nesting environment for birds and it also creates a stronger fence.

Cutting hedges can reduce the quantities of flowers and berries available for bees and birds.

As a compromise, by leaving individual whitethorns to grow up in the trimmed hedgerow and develop into a tree, you will provide a vital source of haws for birds and flowers for insects.

Two individual whitethorn trees in a 100-yard hedgerow is a happy medium.