Trimming or cutting hedges between March and August could land you with an unlimited fine and 6 months in jail due to an environmental law

Gardeners are being warned trimming hedges could be illegal.

Gardeners are being warned not to break the law around trimming hedges or face jail time and an ‘unlimited fine’.

Now the sun has finally come out, gardeners are heading back outside and taking on some essential maintenance, including making sure everything looks neat and tidy in the garden especially with a bank holiday looming.

But if you’re thinking about cutting your hedges, then as well as the implications for the hedge’s growth while flowering, you may also fall foul of an environmental law.

Farm hedgerows cannot legally be cut between April 1 and August 31 at all, apart from in extreme circumstances, which would require a licence.

While it’s technically legal to trim some types domestic garden hedges at this time of year, if it causes a bird’s nest to be damaged or destroyed – intentionally or otherwise – then you’re still breaking the law. Gardeners are being warned trimming hedges could be illegal

Wood Street Care Leicester says: “You must avoid the bird nesting season, which runs from March to August. However, you can cut your hedges after new years day until the end of February.

“It’s illegal to cut your hedges during bird nesting season, which runs from March to August.

“Cutting your hedge during bird nesting season can damage or destroy nests, which is harmful to the birds. It’s also illegal to trim hedges on your property if they’re taller than 20 metres without permission from the local council.”

This is backed by Husqvana which says: “Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it’s an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it is being built or in use. That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird’s nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed.”

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds backs this up

It says that a person is breaking that law if they intentionally damage a bird’s nest while it’s being used or built, and this applies to trimming hedges, saying: “The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it”.

Breaking this law could land you an unlimited fine and six months in prison.

The RSPB adds: “The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking.”