Would you cut a hedge back

[Timetospare]

If you knew there were at least 5 active nests in situ?
For context it does run along the pavement, is well maintained but needs trim, to stop it getting in the way of pedestrians.

When we had one with nests in it, we always waited until they were fledged, so I wouldn't unless it was so overgrown it was dangerous.

Personally I wouldn't, plus I think it might be an offence to deliberately disturb nesting birds. Just leave it, they'll be gone soon anyway, dose it really matter if it looks messy for a month or two?

It’s not blocking any sight lines for drivers or on a corner.
It takes up about a third of the pavement. When trimmed it’s less than a quarter.

No. You cut before or after nesting. Not during.

Trim it when the birds have fledged. It didn’t get so big overnight -there’s plenty of time to trim it outside of nesting season. It’s an offence to disturb nesting birds.

Farmers are generally not allowed to cut hedges from 1st March to 1st September

I agree with all of you, but a man from the council just called round telling us to cut it because they had had a complaint. I’m not sure what will happen if we don’t, and my DH will do it tomorrow
It’s an old privet hedge, that takes a lot of maintenance and it gets cut about every 4 weeks in the main part of the summer, as the blossom smells horrible, and the birds have gone.
I’m a bit annoyed to be honest, as whilst it’s not a thing if beauty it's a little eco system all of its own.

Surely it shouldn't be taking up any of the pavement. It should not overhang your boundary.

It’s illegal to disturb nesting birds. Put a sign on it saying you’re aware it’s a nuisance and you’re sure no one would want you to disturb the birds so it will be cut in August.

Get in touch with the RSPB. We never cut our hedges when birds are nesting.

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/plants-for-wildlife/garden-hedges/hedge-law/

You may be right, and we may have to get rid longer term ,but it’s over 110 years old, so pretty well established. It’s also growing above 4 foot fence if that makes sense, so clearance from ground to 4 foot.

Agree with a previous poster, it's shouldn't be overhanging at all. People who do this with their gardens really piss me off tbh.

No. It is illegal. The council should know this.

Cross post- 4ft is perfect snack a pedestrian in the face height. Completely inconsiderate.

It's illegal to disturb nesting birds

^ This. You can't cut it now, and the person from the council was wrong. Get in touch with the tree officer at the council and tell them what's going on.

Incidentally, did the man from the council show you any ID to prove he was who he said he was?

I have a privet hedge and it hasn't grown enough for a trim this year. Did you forget to do it last autumn?
Anyway I wouldn't trim it but be prepared for the councilman to attempt it. They dont seem to care about nature generally.
Some people like to busy body themselves about all sorts.
I have trimmed a smaller hedge but I did it with hand tools and know there are no nests.

@HappyHammy
Thank you for that. I think I’m going to face off the man from the council as he said the law is overridden if it is a nuisance. I really don’t think it’s nuisance. But there again someone has complained.
@MrsWooster
I like that idea too

That would be illegal without ecological supervision

It is trimmed, at least every month, after nesting up until about November. My DH even has a very expensive petrol driven hedge trimmer just for this very task.

Why do you have it overhanging the pavement though? It's really annoying as a pedestrian to have to avoid hedges and bushes that overhang the gardens.

I'd use a pair of shears and carefully snip what I could without disturbing the birds.

Not sure how hard Privet is to manage, though. I used to trim my Mum's every Sunday morning with shears - and the flowers are a vital nectar source, anyhow.

Yes he had ID. I work for the same council

Sorry, this is drip feeding central!
It’s at least 12 feet high, so impossible to do by hand shears and as I said it’s very old, and we usually only trim the pavement side
But ok, I think we will have to trim it to avoid pissing off the neighbours or whoever reported us.

I work for a local council and guidelines are in place to protect nesting birds. Contact the council formally and request their policy.