Hedge rules now law

topground

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Somerset.
The measured outcomes are the areas and hedge lengths put into the scheme… I would argue the details held in 20,000 sets of hedgerow reports in 18,000 different formats created by 18,000 different farmers and land agents/advisors would be anything but easy, just a means of demonstrating inconsistency.
And soil sample results?
 
Not through legislation yet but the consultation last September suggested fixed penalty fines with a reduction for admitting error and early payment. Similar system to driving infringements (speeding, bus lane etc).
As a contractor, just wondering who get the fine landowner or contractor
 

Punch

Member
Location
Warwickshire
Good question.
Constantly told that the land occupier has final responsibility for action on their land. However it will be the contractor at risk!
Similar situation to a contractor leaving mud on the road.
 

Simon Chiles

DD Moderator
Not cut my back garden hedge on my house. Can I do it this weekend with the Stihl long arm? Or it that illegal now too?

You can at the moment so long as you don’t disturb any bird nests. Once the proposed legislation becomes law then there’s a distinct chance that all hedges will have to comply with similar rules as the old cross compliance. I reckon there’s a good chance you’ll get your hedge cut before the politicians get their act together.
 

glow worm

Member
Location
cornwall
Poor OH gets the brunt of my rants every time we go out for drive. WHY oh WHY do so many 'farmers' cut their hedges down to bank level? It dries me MAD! There's a lot of hedge cutting going on at moment wherever they can get a firm access. Its not hedge cutting. Its total destroying. So short that nothing is left except weeds and scalped earth. Nothing left for nesting birds, food, insects or livestock control. I just don't understand their logic. Its even more apparent when you pass this kind of vandalisam and then the next farmer has cut their hedges neatly to a sensible height. Rules? What rules!
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Poor OH gets the brunt of my rants every time we go out for drive. WHY oh WHY do so many 'farmers' cut their hedges down to bank level? It dries me MAD! There's a lot of hedge cutting going on at moment wherever they can get a firm access. Its not hedge cutting. Its total destroying. So short that nothing is left except weeds and scalped earth. Nothing left for nesting birds, food, insects or livestock control. I just don't understand their logic. Its even more apparent when you pass this kind of vandalisam and then the next farmer has cut their hedges neatly to a sensible height. Rules? What rules!
Because the dates are so tight it is what can happen. One big cut every few years leads to that kind of caper.
 

beardface

Member
Location
East Yorkshire
You can at the moment so long as you don’t disturb any bird nests. Once the proposed legislation becomes law then there’s a distinct chance that all hedges will have to comply with similar rules as the old cross compliance. I reckon there’s a good chance you’ll get your hedge cut before the politicians get their act together.

I have a feeling the effects of Joe public being unable to tend to their garden as they please may become a stumbling block to legislation.
 

glow worm

Member
Location
cornwall
One way to cure unemployment rates.... so many more officials needed to police domestic gardens! Be good forJoe Public to experience a little of what we go through .. but it will never happen
 

Simon Chiles

DD Moderator
I have a feeling the effects of Joe public being unable to tend to their garden as they please may become a stumbling block to legislation.

It’s going to be interesting. On of the major principles of writing a new law is that it shouldn’t discriminate against anyone so they won’t be able to single out farmers. Whilst I agree with you that the vast majority of the general public will be outraged by being dictated to about when they can cut their garden hedge I suspect that most politicians ( of all parties ) will want to be seen to do the right thing for the environment and it’ll be voted through on a quiet day and hardly mentioned at the time.
 

Hay Maker

Member
Arable Farmer
I have a feeling the effects of Joe public being unable to tend to their garden as they please may become a stumbling block to legislation.
It will not apply to them, nor does it apply to them now. The greenes don't want to annoy to many voters in an election year do they?
 

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Expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for farmers published

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Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer from July will give the sector a clear path forward and boost farm business resilience.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Sir Mark Spencer MP Published21 May 2024

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Full details of the expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer available to farmers from July have been published by the...
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