Thank you for contacting me about hedgerows.
Hedgerows are one of the most important ecological building blocks in our farmed landscape. They maintain the distinctive character of our countryside and provide crucial habitats and food for wildlife.
On the 4th of March the Government has introduced Hedgerow regulations to protect wildlife. Under this regulation English hedgerows will be protected in law. You can read more about this here.
Following a Defra consultation on how best to maintain and improve existing protections for hedgerows, backed by over 95% of consultation responses, the Government has set out plans for domestic hedgerow regulations. The regulations will include a two metre ‘buffer strip’ from the centre of hedgerows with no cultivation or application of pesticides or fertilisers, and a hedge cutting ban between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds.
The regulations will support the efforts of many farmers already carrying out vital work to protect hedgerows, providing important ecological benefits including wildlife habitats, slowing soil erosion and water run-off, supporting crop pollinators and absorbing carbon.
