Hedgecutting for safety

[Grassman]

I have seen quite a few gate entrances with hedges trimmed to improve vision. All good.
Then I have seen some who have cut the whole hedge alongside a track and road. Someone says this is OK but I thought otherwise.
Anyone know what is acceptable?

 

[milkloss]

I haven't a clue about the law which is probably about as grey as you can get. Some lanes been done round here, an absolute fantastic job and the lanes look great. I'm sure the locals are very happy it's been done and are much safer to walk or drive.

should be encouraged imo.

 

[Steevo]

Health and safety trumps all. If you think it needs it and it’s justifiable then it’ll be fine.

 

[GmB]

Council have yet to cut any highway verges our way, getting dangerous with the tall grass going over due to the rain which makes the road so much narrower

 

[Shutesy]

We've been working round the farm tidying gateways for harvest. Makes them a lot safer for visibility and new harvest guys to see the edges of ditches etc. Done a few tracks and narrow roads so we can get combine and crawler etc down without destroying mirrors and lights. Had quite a few thank you from locals!

 

[betweenthelines]

If anyone objects just say you've trimmed so bikes and pedestrians are able to pass/be passed without having to squeeze against the hedge.

 

[goodevans]

If anyone objects just say you've trimmed so bikes and pedestrians are able to pass/be passed without having to squeeze against the hedge.

Just done a narrow track which is a bridleway and that was the answer I had waiting but horses instead of bikes

 

[robs1]

As long as they have been checked for nests of course

 

[Still Farming]

Council have yet to cut any highway verges our way, getting dangerous with the tall grass going over due to the rain which makes the road so much narrower

You do that and highways will order or bill you to trim.
They do it and they say their protecting birds and bees ( saving money and pushing Council tax up is the real answer?)

We ort to bill them or ask for Council Tax rebate???
Lanes getting really dangerous now with all over grown and people walking everywhere?

 

[nick...]

Thought councils are cutting back the verge and hedge cutting as they want to see more wild flowers in the verges,probably just a ploy to save money.the verges around south norfolk have not been cut for ages and with all the rain growth has been prolific
nick...

 

[TheTallGuy]

I have seen quite a few gate entrances with hedges trimmed to improve vision. All good.
Then I have seen some who have cut the whole hedge alongside a track and road. Someone says this is OK but I thought otherwise.
Anyone know what is acceptable?

It's legally acceptable provided that nesting birds aren't disturbed. The rub is for those who claim BPS (& the stewardship schemes) as the cross compliance rules only allow the hedges to be trimmed for safety purposes at this time of year & it has to be a genuine safety need rather than a dodgy catch-all excuse.

 

[Still Farming]

Thought councils are cutting back the verge and hedge cutting as they want to see more wild flowers in the verges,probably just a ploy to save money.the verges around south norfolk have not been cut for ages and with all the rain growth has been prolific
nick...

Yes

 

[Sid]

Done gateways and narrow lanes so wing mirrors don't get knocked.

Seen one place where they have done 10ft verge and the hedge sides and top.
Bit OTT IMHO

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Don't open roads encourage speeding? I like seeing the flowers on the verge.

 

[robs1]

Don't open roads encourage speeding? I like seeing the flowers on the verge.

Only flowers round here is ragwort,huge amounts of over grown grass on them

 

[kiwi pom]

Council have yet to cut any highway verges our way, getting dangerous with the tall grass going over due to the rain which makes the road so much narrower

If the verges aren't cut maybe people will slow down a bit and be less likely to drive on to them and turn them into a swamp?
Cut verges show up the litter too, looks a mess then.

 

[Lofty1984]

Only flowers round here is ragwort,huge amounts of over grown grass on them

Same here local bypass is thick with them in the central reservation

 

[Exfarmer]

Overgrown hedges and verges are very dangerous walkers and cyclists, it should be a hard and fast law to cut back at least 3 feet from the road edge

 

[kiwi pom]

Overgrown hedges and verges are very dangerous walkers and cyclists, it should be a hard and fast law to cut back at least 3 feet from the road edge

That's what we used to do at my parents place when I was younger. I used to take pride in a nice level well kept road side but then cars, truck, tractors all got bigger and decided the road should be wider. Bye bye grass verge, its now a pot hole filled muddy mess all the way to the bottom of the hedge. The near neighbours have never done theirs and its noticeable how much slower traffic goes past them, the road sides haven't been ploughed up because no one knows what's in there. Interesting the actual road surface seems to have survived better too.

 

[Steevo]

Overgrown hedges and verges are very dangerous walkers and cyclists, it should be a hard and fast law to cut back at least 3 feet from the road edge

Knowing DEFRA it would be implemented as "you must legally trim at least 300cm from the road edge, but no more than 301cm may be trimmed without a penalty being applied."