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Certain procedures need to be followed before you carry out work on a countryside hedgerow or remove a hedgerow.
Countryside hedgerows are protected by the Hedgerow Regulations 1997. The guidance below outlines the correct procedure to follow if you want to carry out work on a hedgerow or remove a hedgerow.
A countryside hedgerow is protected if it meets the following criteria for: Length, location and importance.
A hedgerow is a boundary line of bushes which can include trees and is protected if it is:
A hedgerow is protected if it is on or next to:
Protection does not apply to hedgerows in or marking the boundary of private gardens.
A hedgerow is important (and therefore protected) if it’s at least 30 years old and meets at least one of these criteria:
You should discuss your proposal to remove a hedgerow with us first to make sure it’s legal to do so.
You can complete an online application through the Planning Portal.
Alternatively, complete and return a paper application form for the relevant area to the local Planning team (return addresses are listed on the forms below):
As part of your application you’ll need to:
We have 42 days to respond to your written notice to remove a hedgerow. If you have not provided enough evidence we will ask you to send in appropriate documents. The 42-day deadline will start again from the date we receive all your documents. In that time we must consult with the relevant parish council. Parish councils can ask for more time to consider your proposal, but all parties must agree a new deadline.
We can issue:
You have up to 2 years from the date of the written notice giving you permission to remove the hedgerow. You must apply for permission again if you allow 2 years to elapse.
You can remove the hedgerow if you don’t hear back from us within the 42-day period.
We must keep a public record of all hedgerow notices that we issue. We don't have to consult anyone, except the local parish council, but we must consider any objections we receive.
You can appeal if we have sent you either:
You must appeal within 28 days of our decision.
Management of a hedgerow, for example clipping or laying, does not need consent. If you are in any doubt what restrictions there may be to trimming, cutting, coppicing or laying a hedgerow, please contact us before you start work.
You must not do any work which might harm nesting birds or destroy their nests. Nesting birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1980. You’ll usually find nesting birds during the main nesting and breeding season from 1 March to 31 August.
Report a suspected offence against nesting wild birds or their eggs to the local police. Ask for a wildlife crime officer to investigate for illegal activity.
Before carrying out work on hedgerow trees you must check if:
You have to take trees into consideration when assessing a planning application for proposed development.
Find out what is needed when submitting a planning application where trees are on or adjacent to the site: