Hedge cutting in August.

[Timbo1080]

Just spin a tiny amount of FSS on the field in August, in the rain if necessary, then drill it properly when conditions are good.....or better still, just say that you've drilled it and nothing came up?!
Had borders here for 30 years, and wouldn't be without them - paid or not....don't get all the crap from the hedge, sprayer booms hitting the hedge, combine side knives cutting the hedge, traffic on the growing area either, AND makes crop walking sooooo much easier. Don't cut the hedges until January anyway.
Why such a rush!

 

[spikeislander]

As said earlier unless the hedge police let us cull some of the predators ie hawks, buzzards, kites and badgers the small birds will be a rarity anyway.

 

[ARW]

and they told me I was the only one who couldn't get on bff because of my email address

Along with thousands of house cats.
We have ruined most hedges with bi annual growth cutting, making the hedges open an sparse that only pigeons nest in. Close tight hedges cut every year are a much better habitat for small nesting birds.
This new rule only helps pigeons that nest on top of the hedge in the huge growth, small birds are in the centre away from the flail protected from predators.
Its a save the pigeon campain ffs.

 

[An Gof]

Easiest way out is putting margins in

That might be fine for you but with an average field size of less than 10 acres margins are too big a proportion of the farm.
With small fields our proportion of hedges is very high, I can't take them out so I'm doing my bit!
People need to remember we need to be profitable first to allow investment, however it might be made, into environmental ideals.

Plenty of experts, some it seems on here, who do not realise the diversity of hedges. I sometimes think they imagine all hedges are a little bit of slow growing thorn a few feet wide.
It's rather different here and the one size fits all is not appropriate here.

 

[An Gof]

Why such a rush!

Because when your annual rainfall is around 55" a year it is too wet in winter to travel.
You obviously don't know of or appreciate the factors we have to deal with.
Best method is to leave it to individuals to do what is best for their ground. They really do understand and know their local requirements.

 

[spikeislander]

Because when your annual rainfall is around 55" a year it is too wet in winter to travel.
You obviously don't know of or appreciate the factors we have to deal with.
Best method is to leave it to individuals to do what is best for their ground. They really do understand and know their local requirements.

I agree leave it to us. For century's farmers and landowners have kept the country side perfect and got it to a good state its only the last forty years of dogooders protecting species which then become to prevalent and predate others which then become rare. If they leave it alone it finds a natural balance. I wouldn't want to see no badgers, foxes or bop but I don't think they should have such protection why are they any better than the sparrow or hedgehog.? Dogooders have created an army of assassins for anything lower down the food table.
Grrrrrr rant over I just get so annoyed I can see it happening daily in front of me. They on the other hand are at a desk and don't see a thing!

 

[kneedeep]

I agree leave it to us. For century's farmers and landowners have kept the country side perfect and got it to a good state its only the last forty years of dogooders protecting species which then become to prevalent and predate others which then become rare. If they leave it alone it finds a natural balance. I wouldn't want to see no badgers, foxes or bop but I don't think they should have such protection why are they any better than the sparrow or hedgehog.? Dogooders have created an army of assassins for anything lower down the food table.
Grrrrrr rant over I just get so annoyed I can see it happening daily in front of me. They on the other hand are at a desk and don't see a thing!

Well said Si.
Nearly posted in 'things that make you smile ' ...
Sparrowhawk flashing out in front of car and getting splattered.
Shouldn't feel happy to see that, but I thought 1-0 to the small birds that matter more.

 

[rob1]

That might be fine for you but with an average field size of less than 10 acres margins are too big a proportion of the farm.
With small fields our proportion of hedges is very high, I can't take them out so I'm doing my bit!
People need to remember we need to be profitable first to allow investment, however it might be made, into environmental ideals.

Plenty of experts, some it seems on here, who do not realise the diversity of hedges. I sometimes think they imagine all hedges are a little bit of slow growing thorn a few feet wide.
It's rather different here and the one size fits all is not appropriate here.

Because when your annual rainfall is around 55" a year it is too wet in winter to travel.
You obviously don't know of or appreciate the factors we have to deal with.
Best method is to leave it to individuals to do what is best for their ground. They really do understand and know their local requirements.

My average arable field size is 9.8 acres so I have lots of hedges here too, we have 3 mtr margins round most of them, with the necessity of EFA's surely its not hard to put a margin round any field that is going into rape, we have lots of sparrows still feeding a second brood and wouldnt be surprised if other birds were too.
I agree about farmers know their farms best and a range of hedge sizes is best for wildlife, BUT there are some farmers who have no care whatsoever for their environment and want to rip out hedges to make 100 acre ones and then smash any of their hedges in July let alone August, this is what's led to these new rules, the bad apples cause us all problems

 

[Brisel]

Hang on a minute. Years ago we were paid by MAFF to rip out hedges to improve farm productivity! Yes, the agenda has changed now. You still need planning permission to remove a hedge.

 

[neilo]

My average arable field size is 9.8 acres so I have lots of hedges here too, we have 3 mtr margins round most of them, with the necessity of EFA's surely its not hard to put a margin round any field that is going into rape,

At the risk of sounding like a 'my field is smaller than yours' competition, all my EFAs come from hedges. I didn't even put them all in and I'm still well over the requirement. Still unsure whether that's a good thing or not. Any additional margin, over what is legally required, comes directly off my cropped area.

I didn't remove any of that cropped area to get enough points for Glastir, as I have most of them from hedgerow restoration.

 

[Hindsight]

I just called the RPA helpline to ask if a field granted a derogation has to be sown in August. The helpline reply was that they had no instructions to that effect.

 

[kneedeep]

My average arable field size is 9.8 acres so I have lots of hedges here too, we have 3 mtr margins round most of them, with the necessity of EFA's surely its not hard to put a margin round any field that is going into rape, we have lots of sparrows still feeding a second brood and wouldnt be surprised if other birds were too.
I agree about farmers know their farms best and a range of hedge sizes is best for wildlife, BUT there are some farmers who have no care whatsoever for their environment and want to rip out hedges to make 100 acre ones and then smash any of their hedges in July let alone August, this is what's led to these new rules, the bad apples cause us all problems

Ahh
But they're 'proper' farmers.....

Certainly a generation round here, that are that blinkered they cannot see.
It's not 1970 anymore.



(That's why I'm not BTW)

 

[DieselRob]

I applied via email on 31st July for the derogation, a reply came back this morning granting it. With this as 1 of the rules:

• the oilseed rape will have to be sown during the month of August for the derogation to apply.

 

[Kevtherev]

All a load of tosh to keep the paperwork goons busy.
I've done thousands of hours hedge cutting and I have yet to kill any songbirds in hedges.

Never see any nesting in August.
The predators the public have so pushed to love have killed all the (good) wildlife.

 

[Hindsight]

I applied via email on 31st July for the derogation, a reply came back this morning granting it. With this as 1 of the rules:

• the oilseed rape will have to be sown during the month of August for the derogation to apply.

I stand corrected in that case and was told an incorrect answer by RPA helpline this morning. Thank you. I have applied today so no doubt will find out in due course same. I presume then will have to decide if that is an acceptable obligation - if not and mindful of inspection may then reply with email declining the derogation. Hey ho.

 

[DieselRob]

The annoying thing for me is that I drill at the very end of Aug or as last year it was 1st, 2nd and 3rd of Sept, any earlier and I would have 2ft rape by xmas, before I drill I cut hedges, spread muck and cultivate all on my own so by cutting the hedges I am then committing to a drilling window which might not be suitable! If I want to drill on the 1st Sept this year when would they like me to cut the hedges?!

I've always been taught that nature doesn't use a calender or clock!

 

[Kevtherev]

The people who make the rules have no practical experience of farming and nature.

They probably watch Chris Packham with a blue tit.

 

[Steevo]

I stand corrected in that case and was told an incorrect answer by RPA helpline this morning. Thank you. I have applied today so no doubt will find out in due course same. I presume then will have to decide if that is an acceptable obligation - if not and mindful of inspection may then reply with email declining the derogation. Hey ho.

I'm not sure you need to decline it. Just don't cut the hedges if you aren't going to drill.

 

[Great In Grass]

The people who make the rules have no practical experience of farming and nature.

They probably watch Chris Packham with a blue tit.

I wonder what colour the other one is.

 

[texelburger]

We have some road hedges that are making motoring dangerous for motorists whi can't see when pulling out of junctions.Can i do these as it's a matter of safety,several neighbours have asked ?