Cutting a hedge with electric hedge trimmer must be done this month (Image: Getty)
Anyone who has hedges in their garden is being urged to trim them before March thanks to an environmental law.
There’s a little known law governing hedges and hedgerows in the UK, which applies from March until August.
Falling foul of it could land you with an ‘unlimited fine’ and in extreme circumstances, even carries a risk of prison time.
Though many probably inadvertently may break the law as they whip out the hedge trimmers and the secateurs over the summer, it’s still the case that could get in trouble if they aren’t careful thanks to a little known environmental regulation.
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Farm hedgerows cannot legally be cut between March 1 and August 31 at all because of laws to protect nesting birds.
While it’s legal to trim domestic hedges at this time of year, if it causes a bird’s nest to be damaged or destroyed, then you’re still breaking the law.
Wood Street Care Leicester says: “It’s illegal to cut your hedges during bird nesting season, which runs from March to August.
“Cutting your hedge during bird nesting season can damage or destroy nests, which is harmful to the birds. It’s also illegal to trim hedges on your property if they’re taller than 20 metres without permission from the local council.”
Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it’s an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it is being built or in use.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds backs this up too. It says that a person is breaking that law if they intentionally damage a bird’s nest while it’s being used or built, and this applies to trimming hedges.
“The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it.”
Amazingly, breaking this law could land you an unlimited fine and six months in prison, even for a single bird’s nest egg being broken.
The RSPB adds: “The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking.”
So if you do need to trim your garden , February is the last chance to do it without running the risk of disturbing nesting birds.
Having said that, pigeons and doves still nest all year round – though usually in rooves and high up in trees – so you still need to take care.