Help shape the management and protection of England’s hedgerows
What is the Hedgerow Consultation?
The UK Government is seeking your views on the enforcement of the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024, which earlier this year, set out new guidelines for the protection and management of hedgerows across England. These regulations include a 2-metre buffer strip around hedgerows and seasonal cutting restrictions to safeguard biodiversity, improve habitat connectivity, and promote sustainable land use practices. Civil measures address less severe breaches and criminal penalties are reserved for more serious offences.
Detailed guidance on completing the consultation, which closes December 10th 2024, can be found below. Please feel free to use the suggested answers in your response.
Question 1 - Do you agree with our proposed approach to the use of civil sanctions?
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Suggested Answer: No
While civil sanctions are an important tool for ensuring compliance with hedgerow management rules, there are 15 exemptions such as enhancing the environment or addressing agricultural needs. These create broad grounds for appeal, risking misuse of the civil sanctions.-
Why?
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The exceptions to the civil sanctions are of considerable concern and do not prioritise nature conservation. This will ultimately undermine biodiversity protection where it is needed most. On farmland.
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Question 2 - Do you agree with our proposed approach to appeals?
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Suggested Answer: No
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Comments Box - We consider hedgerow protection a priority as they are not only a biodiversity hotspot, but act as wildlife corridors in a barren farming landscape. Appealing a Compliance Notice, a Restoration Notice, a Stop Notice or a Monetary Penalty, while on the surface seem fair, we feel that it would be used to undermine the civil sanctions that are there to protect the hedgerow.
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Question 3 - Do you agree with our proposed approach to publishing the details of enforcement actions we have taken?
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Suggested Answer: Yes
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Why?
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Publishing enforcement actions promotes transparency and accountability, which can help deter non-compliance and encourage responsible management.
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Question 4 - If you have any comments about the statutory guidance at Annex A in relation to either its factual accuracy, clarity, or intelligibility...
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Expand the no-cutting period:
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Why?
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While the no-cutting period of 1 March to 31 August covers the main bird nesting season, several species are still vulnerable outside these dates. Examples include robins, blackbirds, wood pigeons, and song thrushes, which can nest from February to September or beyond.
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Propose extending the no-cutting period to comply with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
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Improve clarity on enforcement actions:
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Why?
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Enforcement procedures like compliance notices and stop notices could benefit from clearer explanations, such as step-by-step flowcharts or practical examples.
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Include diagrams and examples for buffer zones:
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Why?
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The guidance on buffer zones (e.g., pesticide restrictions) could be made more intelligible with visuals showing compliant hedgerow management practices.
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Key Reasons Why UK Hedgerows Are Vital
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Wildlife Corridors: Farmland creates a barren landscape hostile to wildlife but hedges are living boundaries, offering an oasis for their survival. Hedges serve as an essential habitat and refuge, a vital food source, and a wildlife corridor allowing species to move between different habitats. This helps maintain genetic diversity, especially for species that require larger territories or need to travel for food and breeding.
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Biodiversity Hotspots: UK hedges support a wealth of biodiversity, providing habitat for a large number of plant and animal species. They are home to over 2,000 species, including rare and protected species.
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Soil and Water Management: Hedgerows help reduce soil erosion, prevent water runoff, and enhance soil fertility. According to DEFRA, hedgerows help improve both air and water quality by trapping pollutants and removing particles from the air and from entering water streams.
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Climate Mitigation: UK hedgerows contribute to carbon sequestration, helping mitigate climate change. They also provide shelter from the wind, protect crops, and prevent flooding in rural areas.
How Many Species Do UK Hedges Support?
UK hedgerows are among the most biodiverse habitats in the country, supporting an extraordinary variety of plants, animals, and fungi. In a two-year study, by Wolton, 2015, a single 85m stretch of hedgerow was found to host 2,070 species.
With more than 500 plant species, 60 nesting bird species and 100s of invertebrates including butterflies, bumblebees, beetles, centipedes, and ladybirds. And of course the hedge’s famous namesake - the hedgehog.
What Species Do UK Hedges Support?
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Birds: Hedgerows are hugely important for our resident bird species. They provide roosting, nesting, and feeding opportunities that can otherwise be scarce in our agricultural landscape. Farmland bird populations have dropped by over 60% since 1970, in large part due to the removal of hedgerows. With 70% of UK land dedicated to farming, hedgerows provide a vital oasis for bird survival.
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Mammals: Small mammals, including the rare hazel dormouse, rely on hedgerows for food and movement corridors. Bats use them for commuting and foraging, while bank voles and harvest mice depend on dense vegetation for nesting. Larger mammals, including hedgehogs, stoats and badgers, use hedgerows for shelter and food.
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Insects: Hedges support pollinators like bees and butterflies, offering a continuous food source with diverse plants. Additionally, hedgerows house various moths, beetles, and other invertebrates, contributing to soil health and supporting larger wildlife.
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Plants: Hedges are composed of and provide shelter to many UK plants. Healthy hedges are composed of several key components, including herbaceous plants at the base, woody shrubs like hawthorn and blackthorn, and taller trees such as oak and ash that form the canopy.
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Fungi: Fungi and lichens thrive in the moist, sheltered conditions of hedgerows. The different layers including the canopy, woody stems, and sheltered soil provide a range of microhabitats that support diverse fungal species.
