Countryside Hedgerows
The Hedgerow Regulations
New rules on country hedgerows (this does not include garden
hedges) came into force on 1 June 1997. The way in which the
Regulations apply to individual hedgerows is quite complex. It is
advisable, therefore, to discuss informally with the Landscape
Officer at our offices on 01233 330387 at an early stage, any plans
to remove hedgerows - before you formally seek permission.
Under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 (SI no 1160)
- It is against the law to remove most countryside hedgerows
(excluding those forming garden boundaries) without
permission.
- To get permission to remove a hedgerow, you must write to
us
- If we decide to prohibit removal of an "important"
hedgerow, we must let you know within 6 weeks.
- If you remove a hedgerow without permission, whether it is
important or not, you may face an unlimited fine. You may also have
to replace the hedgerow.
Managed hedgerows are valuable for wildlife supporting a rich
diversity of insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibian.
In many lowland areas, hedges are the most significant wildlife
habitat remaining. The health of hedgerows is crucial for the
survival of many common as well as more rare species.
Native hedge plants such as blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, dogwood
and field maple will support many more species than non-native
plants such as garden privet, leylandii and sycamore. In
general terms, the more kinds of tree and shrub a hedge contains,
the more wildlife it can support due to different flowering and
fruiting times. The most valuable hedges are those that
combine a thick and bushy hedge with a sympathetically managed
bank, ditch or grassy margin.
View the Defra website for more
information.
Mammals and Reptiles
A mixed species native hedgerow will provide a supply of fruit,
berries, nuts, insects, slugs, snails and spiders for a range of
mammals. Hedgehog, common shrew, pygmy shrew, wood mouse and
stoat will all use hedges to feed, next or hibernate. Other
species such as dormouse and adder are more likely to be found in
hedges that link to other hedges and features such as scrub,
woodland or ponds.
Amphibians and Insects
Certain hedge features are favoured by certain species so a
variety of hedge shrubs and management is important.
Amphibians (frogs, newts and toads) favour hedges with ditches and
dense ground cover. The caterpillars of the Holly Blue
butterfly, will only be found in hedges containing holly, spindle
or dogwood. Another butterfly, the Brown Hairstreak butterfly will
only lay its eggs on the young shoots of blackthorn in a
hedgerow.
Birds
Birds use hedgerows to feed, find cover, establish breeding
territories, nest and raise chicks. Birds commonly associated
with woodland such as blue tit, great tit, wren, blackbird, robin
and chaffinch are more common in taller, wider hedges. Birds that
favour scrubby or open woodland, such as dunnock, yellowhammer and
whitethroat are more common in poor, gappy hedges. A taller
hedge allows nests to be built out of the reach of predators and
will therefore be more likely to fledge chicks successfully.
Hedgerow Trees
Hedgerow trees and uncut hedge tops provide important song posts
allowing birds to establish territories in the breeding
season. It is important to select sapling in hedgerows to
grow on into the next generation of trees for wildlife and for
landscape value. Oak and ash are valuable, long-lived
hedgerow trees supporting a wealth of wildlife species but other
native trees can also be left. Bats, songbirds and lichens,
which favour undisturbed conditions, can thrive on mature hedgerow
trees.
This webpage was updated on
10/8/2009