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Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Chris (18th May 2019 - 18:41:47) I have been TOLD to thin out my hedge & fell a tree within 21 days! Can this really be done at this time of year when the birds are nesting? I thought that The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, being the primary legislation which protects animals, plants and habitats in the UK, threatens a large fine & / or imprisonment if active nests are disturbed. As my garden is heaving with fledglings at the moment & I encourage them any way I can, I can only assume that destroying their very much 'in use' nests would be against the law. I have every intention of doing what is necessary, but can I really be forced to break the law & do it now? Any advice would be gratefully received, along with any recommendations for reasonably priced & thorough tree surgeons who will be required to do more than stated above. Many thanks.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Tom (18th May 2019 - 20:53:42) Shaun or Matt at Green Frontiers

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - mike (18th May 2019 - 21:04:27) Told by whom Chris, the Local Authority? A tree surgeon? It is true that you mustn't disturb nesting birds. Can you check to see if any are present? It is unusual to 'Thin out a hedge', do you mean reduce its height, or trim it back from a footpath.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Chris (18th May 2019 - 21:49:53) Thank you for the recommendation Tom & your interest Mike. I received a letter from the council today - it included several photographs of my property - so I can only assume that someone has complained. Shame that they couldn't just talk to me about it! I freely admit that there is encroachment upon the pavement & my intention was to have the hedge removed later in the year along with the tree & various other jobs. There are currently no nests in the hedge, but there are in the tree. Both hedge & tree are firs so cannot just be hacked back as they would just be unsightly. Life would have been far more simple if they had been anything other than firs! I was hoping to get all my tree & shrub problems sorted out in one go to minimise costs. Any thoughts gratefully received!

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Helen (19th May 2019 - 01:45:37) Yes who is forcing you to do this? The local aurhority would be the only body who could order a tree to be felled if dangerous they would not worry about a hedge.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Duncan (19th May 2019 - 12:09:01) Had exactly this last year. Letter from council giving me 21 days to cut hedge with photos. Reported by neighbour that couldn't talk to me about it.!!! My hedge has been cut in the same week for the last 18 years. I spoke to council told them what week and they were fine with that.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - oldie (19th May 2019 - 13:10:46) But if the council have photographed and made a decision to send you an actionable demand to trim back hedges encroaching onto the footpath, doesn't it mean you were causing an obstruction/ nuisance in the first place? PS I haven't complained about any of you, just wondering! Totally agree about the last poster, write to them and come to sensible plan of action.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - CL Beckwith (19th May 2019 - 19:48:39) To my knowledge if someone has complained to a local authority then the request for work to be completed is given a timescale of 21 days. I would suggest contacting a tree surgeon and discussing the requested work. You could then speak to the local authority about the plan of action including timescales. Duncan would be happy to come and provide a quotation. D Findlay Tree Services is NPTC certified and fully insured. 01428 724968

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Mike (19th May 2019 - 21:16:32) Happy to look Chris. Mike Sullivan. tree surgeon. mjsullivan@btconnect.com

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - liz (20th May 2019 - 09:10:19) Disgraceful that our local council are forcing tree cutting in May, disturbing nesting birds.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Bush (20th May 2019 - 12:55:56) I recall the local council refusing trimming hedges from a cycling path with the excuse of the nesting season, even though cyclepath and road safety were an issue. Seems the council are choosing their excuses as and when suits them. Yes, disgraceful that locals can't resolve local disputes between themselves and instead they opt for the nanny (council) formal procedure.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Duncan (20th May 2019 - 19:47:43) Oldie Yes absolutely, my hedge did encroach by about 18'' over an 8' length never said or implied it didn't. My point was more to talk to council about it

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Chris (21st May 2019 - 08:24:23) Thank you all for your thoughts & views - always interesting to hear of your experiences & what you all think. Needless to say, I contacted the Council yesterday & the time frame for hedge / tree work has been deferred until September - a much more realistic time frame & also allows me to stay within the law! So, much as I now don't need to rush, I will still need a tree surgeon. Could you continue to recommend for me please. One last comment on the way in which this was done - if there is an issue with a neighbour, don't take the underhand route, just talk to them! Taking the official line is a sad indictment of society & cowardly - it is not the way forward.There is nothing that cannot be sorted out with discussion & compromise! (Yes, I have taken this scenario VERY personally & yes, I am an eternal optimist!) Thank you all once again.

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Duncan (21st May 2019 - 20:53:52) Jasper has done ours for years, excellent Jasper Gooding Tree Services Longmoor Rd 01428 722313

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Anon (22nd May 2019 - 08:46:21) File a Subject Access Request (SAR) Immediately with EHDC data centre info-requests@easthants.gov.uk requesting the name of the complainant and the person that signed off the notice given to you. This will put a block on anyone taken action with you until they have responded. If they do not provide a full response then you can complain and or report them to the ICO. If you 'believe' that there are protected or rare birds nesting in your hedge Portree then contact the RSPB and seek advice. You can refer to the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 Hedge sparrows are protected under this act. Basic protection. All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions (see Exceptions), to: Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird. Intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Hope this helps :-)

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Chris B (24th May 2019 - 15:35:42) Call James at liphook tree surgeons, He gave me the advice I needed and dealt with the relevant papaerwork with the council for me. Neat and tidy job and they are very good with conservation and habitat on our land. They advertise at the top of the page Here’s the James number 07920057009 Hope this helps Chis b

Re: Advice Please re Hedge Cutting & Tree Felling in May! - Rob (25th May 2019 - 00:54:02) Kingsley tree care are good, near and tidy and reasonably priced

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