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.

It's illegal for one thing

Not unless it’s one of the birds listed it’s not.

Just seen the photo yes that’s bad.

That's a great list. I'd quite like a swan or a red kite. Just sparrows and I think goldfinches

tbh that hedge takes the piss.
it makes the pavement very narrow to walk on, let alone push a wheelchair or a pram.

I’m not sure about that list of birds that was posted. My interpretation is that the provisions in the Countryside and Wildlife Act apply to all wild birds.

But there are exceptions and the one below could be relevant here:

It is not illegal to destroy a nest, egg or bird if it can be shown that the act was the incidental result of a lawful operation which could not reasonably have been avoided.

I guess the question is, would cutting the hedge back if instructed by the council for health & safety reasons be a “”lawful operation”? Quite possibly

OP, as I mentioned earlier, I have been on the receiving end of highways when they get the bit between their teeth. Ours was always scheduled in to be removed, but as the safety inspector was a twat, we led them on.

Ultimately they will win, as if you don't do it, they will and you'll pay. There will be a loophole they will use, they do this all the time. You just need to do it. As you can guarantee from now on they will regularly check your hedge.

I must say in my defence it looks like it runs up to the junction, but it stops before the white line markings.the pavement is 4 foot and hedge 1 foot. (Yes I did measure it out if curiosity) also proven to self, not a natural photographer!
Anyhow, DH able to do it and quite likes playing with his petrol driven power tool.

When you cut it back are you going to cut back further than the 'normal' quarter of the pavement that it usually covers?

You need to cut it back more than that, taking up a quarter of the pavement is still ripping the piss. Find a point maybe an inch or so further out than your wall (and thats being generous...) And go straight up from there. The airspace of your land doesnt curve outwards as it goes up...

I'm not surprised someone has complained. It takes up a huge chunk of the pavement.

So usually it’s about 6 maybe 9 inches overhang but it’s not been done since November, then with all the rain in Feb, couldn’t be done again and has put on massive growth since the warm weather in March and now we are here.
But never mind, it’s going to be done, probably tomorrow.

If we go to an inch outside the fence @ScottishStottie, that will certainly take out nests and non fledged birds, so no way. Sorry

I meant once the nesting has finished. Obviously you need to do something now because of the complaint, but i was just pointing out that your normal isnt ok either

I’d agree, take it back as far as you can now, and then when nesting is over that needs to be cut right back.

I’m sorry op. But it’s an inexcusable monstrosity.

It is always cut back to about 6 inches increment onto the pavement. When the birds are not fledging.
Anyway, we will be grubbing it up later in the year, and building a wall so problem solved.
Bit sad really.

6 inches over the pavement is too much. Why do you think you are entitled to have any of it encroaching onto the pavement? Just because it's old doesn't give it any more rights to take up space that doesn't belong to you...

6 inches over the pavement is too much. Why do you think you are entitled to have any of it encroaching onto the pavement? Just because it's old doesn't give it any more rights to take up space that doesn't belong to you...

It should be back to the boundary of the property.

Basically OP is on a hiding to nothing now, highways will insist it's done, you're just going to have to cut it back.

I wouldn’t cut it during nesting season but if that was my hedge it would be cut and kept flush with the fence.
It should be at the boundary.
None of it should be overhanging the pavement.

I love plants and trees and hedges but it’s a massive, massive annoyance of mine when they are allowed to encroach on other people’s gardens, pavements etc.
You plant them you maintain them.

@frostedviolets don’t worry it’s going, but in our defence it was planted over 100 years ago.

Does it need to go?
Is there a reason why it can’t be kept trimmed back flush to the fence?

If it’s on your property it is your responsibility to keep it under control.

Seems a shame to dig it up though, but if it can’t be kept trimmed back because it’ll go brown and not regenerate or you don’t have the time to maintain it then yes I think getting rid of it is the most reasonable thing to do,

You can hack privet back as it regrows ok unlike conifer's and does tend to grow rapidly. I loved our hedge as gave much more privacy and wind protection to garden than 6ft fence or wall would've & always full of birds and buzzing from bee's when flowers.

Any chance nests are higher up than 6ft?

Looking at the photo it does take the piss. It needs cutting flush with the fence.
If your husband can't do that you'll need to get in professionals with scaffolding.

Repeatedly saying it was planted 100 years ago doesn't alter the fact that it's your responsibility to maintain it.

To be honest it should have been cut well back before the beginning of March.