Hi Joeann. They do indeed. Frankly I think it should be illegal to do anything to a hedge from the end of Feb through to September, but I canlt see a government ever enacting that because it would only inflame landowners who already feel there are too many restrictions placed on them to conserve nature and the environment....
My local council butchers the remaining hedges a couple of times per year. I noticed them destroying a hedgerow a couple of weeks ago. The people they employ are clearly not trained & every year these poor hedgerows show signs of dying completely 😢 Every year we have a competition Thornbury in bloom, hanging baskets, concrete planters, bedding plants that get discarded once the blooms have finished, most of which aren't native plants so have very little benefit for our native species, ie butterflies, bees etc. The council still used glyphosate, which is not only toxic but considering the state of the pavements, chewing gum, fag ends, a hoe or simply pulling by hand would be far more environmentally friendly. I have an allotment where everything is organic much to the disgust of other plot users, they still use chemicals, slug pellets & manicure their plots leaving nothing for the wildlife. I have a wild area, fruit trees, lavender, rosemary, comfrey, native species of trees in pots that I've grown myself. The Rosemary's are in bloom as I speak & already covered in bumbles.
I never cut hedges in spring, love birds and belong to R S P B, A story - When I was 14years, now 70years ago I owned a "SHOTGUN", while out walking in countryside, not long after 2nd war, I aimed at a bird (do not know what bird) pulled the trigger and saw this bird drop down to the ground, at that moment it made me feel "SICK to my STOMACH" and I remember feeling "ASHAMED", that taught me a lesson, that no school can teach, "ALL WILDLIFE" are "NATURES" "BEAUTY" to "ENJOY", not to harm in any way, I still think of that bird and it brings a tear to my eye, that shotgun was handed to the police on an "AMNESTY". "PEOPLE DON'T HARM OUR WILDLIFE"
We only take new shoots of Charlie the birds need all the cover they can, and yes your right 100% its sad weve installed homemade bird boxes and owl boxes to give them a helping hand nothing better than watching new fledglings taking flight
I've sent a email to my local council about cutting down bushes and trees 😞 last week I'm still waiting for a response do any council actually care about this
Hi Deborah. It's such a shame isnt it. You'd think given how cash-strapped most councils are they would 'allow' a bit of nature to flourish, but from what I've read a lot of this obession with 'tidying' is forced on them by a small number of residents who complain vociferously if a leaf comes too close to them. Perhaps your complaint the other way will help to balance things a little :)
Thank you for excellent summary re hedges: flayling to mature wood is the norm in Northumberland, unfortunately. All to make it look 'neat' - and then all the cuttings are left in ditches, pathways and etc! In relation to another post, and thank you for many supportive responses, which helps with that terrible sense of lonliness when faced with inhumane acts.
On the issue of fighting moorland game shooting, this picture taken from the wonderful Yeavering Bell allnin a National Park) shows clearly the mess the shooting industry makes of moorland /heath https://s.amsu.ng/OJZsLPngYQUN
It is even more sobering close up. Your amazing work: THANK YOU.
We only trim hedges we dont cut at all our cute little feathered friends need a home until they have flown the nests 🐦🕊🐦
Hi Joeann. They do indeed. Frankly I think it should be illegal to do anything to a hedge from the end of Feb through to September, but I canlt see a government ever enacting that because it would only inflame landowners who already feel there are too many restrictions placed on them to conserve nature and the environment....
My local council butchers the remaining hedges a couple of times per year. I noticed them destroying a hedgerow a couple of weeks ago. The people they employ are clearly not trained & every year these poor hedgerows show signs of dying completely 😢 Every year we have a competition Thornbury in bloom, hanging baskets, concrete planters, bedding plants that get discarded once the blooms have finished, most of which aren't native plants so have very little benefit for our native species, ie butterflies, bees etc. The council still used glyphosate, which is not only toxic but considering the state of the pavements, chewing gum, fag ends, a hoe or simply pulling by hand would be far more environmentally friendly. I have an allotment where everything is organic much to the disgust of other plot users, they still use chemicals, slug pellets & manicure their plots leaving nothing for the wildlife. I have a wild area, fruit trees, lavender, rosemary, comfrey, native species of trees in pots that I've grown myself. The Rosemary's are in bloom as I speak & already covered in bumbles.
I never cut hedges in spring, love birds and belong to R S P B, A story - When I was 14years, now 70years ago I owned a "SHOTGUN", while out walking in countryside, not long after 2nd war, I aimed at a bird (do not know what bird) pulled the trigger and saw this bird drop down to the ground, at that moment it made me feel "SICK to my STOMACH" and I remember feeling "ASHAMED", that taught me a lesson, that no school can teach, "ALL WILDLIFE" are "NATURES" "BEAUTY" to "ENJOY", not to harm in any way, I still think of that bird and it brings a tear to my eye, that shotgun was handed to the police on an "AMNESTY". "PEOPLE DON'T HARM OUR WILDLIFE"
I agree with you Charles, thanks for your reply.
We only take new shoots of Charlie the birds need all the cover they can, and yes your right 100% its sad weve installed homemade bird boxes and owl boxes to give them a helping hand nothing better than watching new fledglings taking flight
I've sent a email to my local council about cutting down bushes and trees 😞 last week I'm still waiting for a response do any council actually care about this
Hi Deborah. It's such a shame isnt it. You'd think given how cash-strapped most councils are they would 'allow' a bit of nature to flourish, but from what I've read a lot of this obession with 'tidying' is forced on them by a small number of residents who complain vociferously if a leaf comes too close to them. Perhaps your complaint the other way will help to balance things a little :)
Thank you for excellent summary re hedges: flayling to mature wood is the norm in Northumberland, unfortunately. All to make it look 'neat' - and then all the cuttings are left in ditches, pathways and etc! In relation to another post, and thank you for many supportive responses, which helps with that terrible sense of lonliness when faced with inhumane acts.
On the issue of fighting moorland game shooting, this picture taken from the wonderful Yeavering Bell allnin a National Park) shows clearly the mess the shooting industry makes of moorland /heath https://s.amsu.ng/OJZsLPngYQUN
It is even more sobering close up. Your amazing work: THANK YOU.