hedge removal

[paul&mandy]

Had a customer remove a road hedge, its about 100m, had a few cars through it but its still a hedge, surely thats totally illegal pulling it out with a 360 but during nesting season is an even bigger big no no...
I had a message to bring the hedge cutter to wack back some other before we fence.
This is a good life place not a farm. Really want to walk away from this as I don't want to be involved with this destruction in nesting season right on full view too.
Im obviously not taking the hedger but should I walk away from the fencing job too?

 

[puppet]

Depends who has enough money to pay the fines or risk picking up the soap in the showers.
I would explain your concerns and step back which is obviously what your gut is telling you.
Always listen to your gut.

 

[Mouser]

Had a customer remove a road hedge, its about 100m, had a few cars through it but its still a hedge, surely thats totally illegal pulling it out with a 360 but during nesting season is an even bigger big no no...
I had a message to bring the hedge cutter to wack back some other before we fence.
This is a good life place not a farm. Really want to walk away from this as I don't want to be involved with this destruction in nesting season right on full view too.
Im obviously not taking the hedger but should I walk away from the fencing job too?

Surely nothing for you to worry about? Just do what you're paid to do. Make them sign a disclaimer if it makes you feel better.

 

[Grassman]

If they are not claiming subsidy then they may not of done anything wrong.
Perhaps they got permission to remove hedge and checked for birds nests.
I would speak to them and explain your concerns.

 

[puppet]

If they are not claiming subsidy then they may not of done anything wrong.
Perhaps they got permission to remove hedge and checked for birds nests.
I would speak to them and explain your concerns.

To remove a hedge it should have all been netted back in February to stop nesting. The subsidy issue is only relevant in that it is easy to dock your payment but it is still illegal. The authorities would have to bring a prosecution which is risky and expensive. Either way still wrong.

 

[Still Farming]

Some Feckers around here carry on what ever ?
They circular saw head cut back hard and hard every year and then claim earth bank removal as a planning application as low wildlife status, even though over the years claimed as organic and wildlife payments when that suited them allegedly ????
Gives Honest Farmers a bad name and planners too thick to see it ???

 

[Goweresque]

Hedgerow regs are here:

The Hedgerows Regulations 1997

These Regulations make provision for the protection of important hedgerows in England and Wales. To facilitate the protection of those hedgerows, the Regulations apply to a wider class of hedgerows, described in regulation 3 (in particular to hedgerows which are 20 metres or more long or which...

www.legislation.gov.uk

There are a few exemptions for hedgerow removal, they are listed in section 6

 

[betweenthelines]

They could well have sought and received permission on road safety grounds.

Reading the Regs above, it is NOT illegal to remove a hedge, but there is a process to follow.

 

[Hesstondriver]

if you gut instinct is that it is not morally right - walk away , irrespective of the legality.

 

[Kidds]

I saw a JD hedgecutting last week and thought how wrong it was. Wasn't roadside, wasn't anything other than a hedge in a field on a farm. Right in the middle of nesting season.

Walk away, what they are doing is morally wrong never mind anything else. Not something to have your business associated with.

 

[Werzle]

Had a customer remove a road hedge, its about 100m, had a few cars through it but its still a hedge, surely thats totally illegal pulling it out with a 360 but during nesting season is an even bigger big no no...
I had a message to bring the hedge cutter to wack back some other before we fence.
This is a good life place not a farm. Really want to walk away from this as I don't want to be involved with this destruction in nesting season right on full view too.
Im obviously not taking the hedger but should I walk away from the fencing job too?

You cannot get done for fencing and you didnt remove the hedge so crack on

 

[paul&mandy]

I saw a JD hedgecutting last week and thought how wrong it was. Wasn't roadside, wasn't anything other than a hedge in a field on a farm. Right in the middle of nesting season.

Walk away, what they are doing is morally wrong never mind anything else. Not something to have your business associated with.

Nail on the head, been in the village 40yrs this year and don't want my name associated with this. Least let the heat go before I get involved with putting a fence up. Dont want anyone thinking I pulled the hedge out.

 

[paul&mandy]

You cannot get done for fencing and you didnt remove the hedge so crack on

I probably worry too much....

 

[Widgetone]

If you're local, you've maybe answered your question. Not worth any association with that.
Frustrating to turn away business, pretend to be too busy until September?

 

[Still Farming]

I saw a JD hedgecutting last week and thought how wrong it was. Wasn't roadside, wasn't anything other than a hedge in a field on a farm. Right in the middle of nesting season.

Walk away, what they are doing is morally wrong never mind anything else. Not something to have your business associated with.

The Community and
envoirnmentist group bused in, clearing a stream and wood area by here most weekends , burning trash and having a right go at it with "do gooders' jumping at doing it all ???
I asked the Community Councillor leading it if they had "special dispensation " ,or exempt to do it, and he just looked at me, daft, as interfering?
I said if we as farmers cut hedges or did anything like that between March and September we would be prosecuted?
He never replied!!!.
They carry on every weekend!
Canada Geese ,newts everything there-sad.

 

[Farfrae]

If the hedge forms part of the curtilage of a dwelling (you say it is a good life place not a farm), the regs do not apply as I understand it.

 

[yellow belly]

Check the hedge for nesting birds before starting if you find any then you cannot remove hedge

same with tree work

 

[neilo]

You can still remove hedges on Ag land, you just need planning permission these days.
If you have a valid reason (like making fields more efficient) then it’s just a formality I understand.

 

[True North]

If they are not claiming subsidy then they may not of done anything wrong.
Perhaps they got permission to remove hedge and checked for birds nests.
I would speak to them and explain your concerns.

To be fair before I was a proper grown up, I ripped out a hedge in Spring and sadly a Blackbird nest was in there. Never fgorgave myself. Genuine error, but the mum lost her babies because of my ignorance. I wouldn't have chosen to do it. If they don't know, might be better to give them the opportunity to say they might wait?

 

[True North]

This might be a daft question, but if I don't ask...

We've some hawthornes growing randomly, could we pull them up (not now) and try to replant them as hedgerow?

Whats the deal with hedgerow, do you have to actually shape it as a hedge to wall size once it gets going? All our bushes and trees are just wildly thriving but not doing much hedging!