Hedge rules now law

[Spud]

Hedgerow regulations to be brought into law to protect wildlife

English hedgerows will be protected in law as the government sets out its plans for domestic hedgerow regulations, following a consultation last year.

www.gov.uk

Cross compliance ended 31st December. Good job it's been a wet winter.

So it appears we lose income on let's say half a metre (bit more probably) on the perimeter of every field to stay legal. Super.

How will this be policed? Any idea?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

According to Farming Today this morning there is now no Cross Compliance and therefore no restrictions.
It was said that there will be a law passed in the future to cover the regulation, but not yet!

 

[Spud]

According to Farming Today this morning there is now no Cross Compliance and therefore no restrictions.
It was said that there will be a law passed in the future to cover the regulation, but not yet!

Have you read the link above? It sounds like it's only a rubber stamp away!

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Have you read the link above? It sounds like it's only a rubber stamp away!

It would appear from FT that there is no actual legislation that can be used in law. So no one can prosecute you if you go hedge cutting this week.

 

[Skintagain]

Get them grubbed out quick

 

[Dave645]

https://www.gov.uk/government/consu.../summary-of-responses-and-government-response

if you want to understand the joke that was the consultation, read the results 702 farmers represented 82% of the farmers that filled it in, so a grand total of around 828 farmers and the rest of the total 8692 were non farmers. So sure they were happy to sell farmers down the river as it doesn’t cost them anything.

 

[womble8350]

Its the countryside and wildlife act that restricts hedge cutting from the first of March. However I think that you will be able to start cutting either 1st July or August.

 

[Vader]

Why do you think they paying g sfi money to record your hedge condition...?
All on record for them.
I did warn...

 

[yellowbelly]

Why do you think they paying g sfi money to record your hedge condition...?
All on record for them.
I did warn...

It all started when IACS first came out - remember having to send them maps marking all hedgerows, partial hedgerows, trees etc?

It was all just the start of a modern, computer orientated Doomsday Book, where sadly "doom" has become the operative word.

 

[Kevtherev]

All about control of the land.

 

[jonnieboy]

Big campaigns by the anti farming types and lack of responses by agriculture what can you expect

 

[Vader]

It all started when IACS first came out - remember having to send them maps marking all hedgerows, partial hedgerows, trees etc?

It was all just the start of a modern, computer orientated Doomsday Book, where sadly "doom" has become the operative word.

Yeah but they lost all that early data.
So now sfi is here.
"Tell us your hedge condition and soil carbon details and we give you a few peanuts for the data to screw you over later with.."

 

[yellowbelly]

Yeah but they lost all that early data.

Really?
The Government must stop using those Horizon computer systems

 

[devonbeef]

so can you lay hedges in march cutting off surplus bits with chainsaw as you lay? if you check for nests before, its ok ?or is that illegal now to?

 

[serf]

so can you lay hedges in march cutting off surplus bits with chainsaw as you lay? if you check for nests before, its ok ?or is that illegal now to?

As far as I know you can hedge lay till end o march under the old compliance rules but now there's " no compliance" can't see why you can't to do something as benign as hedge laying way beyond that , you'd certainly see what's going on in the hedge

 

[Kidds]

I think hedgelaying is filed as "quaint" so doesn't come into it.

 

[Punch]

Hedgerow regulations to be brought into law to protect wildlife

English hedgerows will be protected in law as the government sets out its plans for domestic hedgerow regulations, following a consultation last year.

www.gov.uk

Cross compliance ended 31st December. Good job it's been a wet winter.

So it appears we lose income on let's say half a metre (bit more probably) on the perimeter of every field to stay legal. Super.

How will this be policed? Any idea?

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).

 

[Punch]

According to Farming Today this morning there is now no Cross Compliance and therefore no restrictions.
It was said that there will be a law passed in the future to cover the regulation, but not yet!

Still covered by Wildlife & Countyside Act 1981. Statutory powers later this year if parliamentary time!

 

[Punch]

It would appear from FT that there is no actual legislation that can be used in law. So no one can prosecute you if you go hedge cutting this week.

Be careful, do a bird nesting survey and record it. Wildlife charities are on this and urging members of public to dob in offenders!

 

[Punch]

Its the countryside and wildlife act that restricts hedge cutting from the first of March. However I think that you will be able to start cutting either 1st July or August.

Unless legislation gets passed this year best to record a wildlife survey (no nesting birds etc) before starting. Theoretically should do that at all times