A warning has been issued to gardeners over trimming their hedges this May.
UK households carrying out garden task in May risk ‘unlimited fine’
UK households completing a common garden task in May risk “unlimited fines”. A warning has been issued to gardeners over trimming their hedges this May.
UK households are being urged to be aware of nesting wild birds making their homes in UK gardens. Gardeners are reminded that disturbing the feathery creatures could land them in trouble with the law.
The Met Office guidance reads: “May is a key month for nesting birds. As wild birds, their eggs and nests are protected by law, it is vital to check that any operations such as pruning or hedge-cutting don’t cause a disturbance that would cause birds to abandon their nests.
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Disturbing or destroying a bird’s nest intentionally is an offence that could land gardeners with a hefty fine, jail time of up to six months or even both.
The hedgerow management rules aim to protect hedgerows on agricultural land as these are important ecological building blocks across our landscapes. Hedgerows provide habitat, act as wildlife corridors, slow soil erosion and water run-off.
They also support crop pollinators and sequester carbon as well as enriching the landscape.
The Royal Horticultural Society said, “When undertaking work on garden hedges, check first that there are no nesting birds, as it is an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.
“The nesting season is usually considered to run from March to August, but it can be longer.“
A hedgerow is a line of bushes which can include trees. Any trees growing in a hedgerow will be treated as part of the hedgerow.
Where a line of trees does not meet this definition, and it is not being managed as a hedgerow, it will not be covered by the rules.
The rules also include hedgerows on top of a traditional hedgerow bank.
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