Please stop me from going around to the neighbours

[DuckyMcDuck]

And give them a piece of my mind. (Wine might have been taken!)

We have a lot of ivy growing on the fence at the back of our garden, there is a narrow passageway on the other side of the fence. This time last year, the neighbours asked to cut it back and we explained that it is always full of sparrows' nests and we would cut it back in the winter - which we did.

So this year, the sparrows have been there as usual. It's been lovely watching them fly in and out and we've been feeding and watering them as usual.

So, yesterday, the neighbours have decimated cutback the hedge. There are huge gaps and when we went into the passageway earlier I saw at least 6 nests and a few bodies of the baby birds.

I'm so cross, I understand that the access is tricky with the ivy at the moment but it's not damaging their property in any way and they know we'll cut it back once the fledglings have gone. But they've basically murdered the babies. Sparrows are becoming less common.

I don't know if they have actually done anything legally wrong but I'm so tempted to go and tell them they're a bunch of murdering fucking wankers.

Your fence, not theirs? I’d be really angry and would scoop up the bodies to present to them. It’s illegal to disturb nesting birds, you could report them. How horrible of them.

Okay, it's really horrible, but if you know that the ivy makes access to their property difficult, I think you had a duty to move the ivy last Winter. They can't spend several months a year struggling to access their property because you want to enjoy birds.

Ahh thats so nasty. They knew there was nests & you would sort it later on in the year when it was safe, so why did they go and do it?

Was it obstructing their access?

I would have to go and talk to them as I woukd be very annoyed and wouldn’t be able to let it go.

Did they actively damage it or did they just stop trying to disturb it?

The ivy is just on our fence, their fence is about a meter the other side of the passageway.

We did cut the ivy back to practically nothing on the other side of the fence in January. You could still walk down the alley last month although you did have to move the ivy out of the way with your arm to do so.

I get that it was probably annoying for them, but they must have known and seen the nests and baby birds while they were cutting it back.

They've committed an offence under the wildlife and countryside act

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/

Take lots of photos and report them

YANBU Take them the baby birds and ask them to explain themselves.

They've committed an offence under the wildlife and countryside act

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/

Take lots of photos and report them

Take pictures £1K per baby bird under the countryside act.. Report to police.

That’s really upsetting 😔

Horrible! will they be doing the same next year with the new nests then?? Hopefully if you report they will think twice 😥

What a load of nonsense.

Would you want to have to ‘hold back the ivy with your arm’ every time you needed to access your our property?

YANBU totally disgusting. Take photos and report them

See if your local force has a wildlife crime officer

Your ivy got so thick multiple birds could best in it?

Ducking he'll. That's a lot of ivy. Esp if it's grown from nothing in a year.

Hideous. I hate ivy.

Nest*
Fucking*
(Although like both autocorrects)

You should go round to your neighbours, it's appalling what they have done. So upsetting.

Yes it's illegal.
"It is an offence under Section 1 of theWildlife and Countryside Act of 1981to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, or to intentionally kill, injure or take chicks or adults, or intentionally take or destroy any eggs.

It is an intentional act, for example, if you or your neighbour know there is an active nest in the hedge and still cut the hedge, damaging or destroying the nest or contents in the process.

If someone is cutting a hedge during this period, speak to them and politely mention the risk to birds’ nests, and the laws protecting nests.
If they proceed, and you know there is an active nest at risk, contact the police on 101, and ask for a reference number." RSPB website

Sparrows aren’t covered by the wildlife and countryside act

Its an offence. Report them. Whether or not the ivy should have been fully removed or not in January is immaterial.

Really hideous thing they have done but I think if the ivy is so big that they have to hold it out of the way to access their house then it does seem too long. Instead of just cutting back in the winter you might need to think of a way to manage it all year round?

@YardleyX

The wildife and countryside act clearly states that all wild birds are protected.

It is illegal. Take as many photos as you can. Call the non emergency police number and tell them you have proof of the offence under the Wildlife &Countryside Act 1981.

I am in London Met area and they have a specific section who deal with wildlife crimes and they take it seriously.

Read the Schedules

Were the bird nests on your side? I can't imagine how that works.

If you cut the ivy on the far side, where the passage is, down to the ground in March, the birds can still nest on your side.