Managing Hedgerows – Farming Friends

What Is A Hedgerow?

A hedgerow is a row of shrubs or bushes that provide a border or boundary, with or without trees.
Defra states that, “Hedgerows play an important role on farms.”

The Role Of Hedgerows On Farms

Management And Maintenance Of Hedgerows

Hedgerows should be trimmed no more than every two years.
Slow growing thorn hedgerows can be trimmed every three years.
Avoid trimming all hedgerows in the same year.
Use a rotational cutting timetable to manage hedgerows.
Trim up to a third of the farm’s hedgerows in a year.
Hedgerows alongside roads and farm access tracks may need to be trimmed annually to avoid obstruction.
Newly planted hedgerows need a light trim annually for about 10 years.
Trimming must be avoided between 1st March and 31st July, as this is the main nesting season for birds.
Trimming of hedgerows should take place at the end of Winter or early Winter if land conditions are unsuitable at the end of the season.
Ground cover at the base of the hedgerow should be retained over Winter for ground nesting birds.
Hedgerows should not be over-trimmed or over-managed.
Livestock should be fenced away from hedgerows.
Field margins of uncultivated or ungrazed land should be maintained between the hedge and the crop.
Managing a range of different types and sizes of hedgerow will help to support a wide variety of wildlife.
Old hedgerow trees provide a habitat for a wide variety of insects and other animals and require protection and a long-term plan for replacement.

Did you Know?

Hedgerows are protected by the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.
Permission is required before removing hedges that are at least 20m in length, over 30 years old and contain certain species of plant.
Some hedgerows are protected on the basis of their historic importance or wildlife value.

Visit the Defra website for more information about hedgerows.

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