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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hedgerow destruction - helpful or not?

41 replies

settledandsmug · 23/04/2016 20:36

Just after a jury opinion.

At the end of our street is a verge with an overgrown hedgerow/thicket alongside a public path - all belongs to the council.

A new neighbour (not adjoining the land, but adjacent) has spent last two weekends clearing all of the bushes.

I want to complain because of the destruction of wildlife habitat but I feel sorry for the woman who has put so much effort in.

AIBU to complain? Or is it important that I do?

OP posts:
SlinkyVagabond · 23/04/2016 20:41

It's illegal to clear or cut hedgerows in breeding season. It wasn't up to her to tidy it up, I would report.

PseudoBadger · 23/04/2016 20:41

Hedgerows are wildlife motorways Sad

BumWad · 23/04/2016 20:44

Report

SpaceKablooie · 23/04/2016 20:46

Slinky has a point - it's illegal to knowingly disturb a nest during nesting season (March to August I think). You can check the details on the RHS website.

Redbindippers101 · 23/04/2016 20:47

My dictionary defines adjacent as adjoining. Apart from that, grass her up.

ABetaDad1 · 23/04/2016 20:47

She just destroyed public property. Presumably because it made he property unsightly.

Just because it isn't private land doesn't mean she can do that.

Report. She should pay to have it put back.

Original poster
settledandsmug · 23/04/2016 20:51

Thanks. That was my feeling but I just wanted to check I wasn't over reacting. When I said their property is adjacent I meant that their house almost backs on to the area but is divided by a corner of parking. It doesn't affect their property at all. Although it's been allowed to grow a bit wild it is never allowed to encrouch on the public paths or highways, it just overgrows the green space a bit, but this is just a grass area (which is regularly cut by the council).

OP posts:
Kanga59 · 23/04/2016 20:54

I wouldn't report and think YABU for reporting her after having had two weekends of time to chat to her about it. What's done is done and it I'll grow back. We are at the very start of nesting season - highly unlike any eggs have been laid - nests may have been started yes, but that's natural selection. They will be re-made.

She probs thinks she's being helpful. Report her at the beginning of the next time she does it if you need to, preferably speak to her about it too

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/04/2016 20:55

She should be forced to replace the hedge, and be prosecuted if any evidence that nesting birds have been disturbed.

I am Shock that anyone would do this...

Original poster
settledandsmug · 23/04/2016 21:00

Sorry that is NOT 'natural selection'! When she started it looked like she was just doing a bit of tidying - I could live with that - it was only this evening that the full extent of the damage was apparent from the angle I'm looking from.

She has absolutely no business to be taking charge of council land! Thank you for helping me confirm to myself that I am definitely NOT being unreasonable!

OP posts:
KnotNora · 23/04/2016 21:03

No she can't do that.

Do is a tree surgeon and is always v careful around hedges and tree nests around now.

I'd stick a passive aggressive note through her door Wink

Catfartstink · 23/04/2016 21:04

Yanbu at all. Our little creatures need all the help they can get at the moment. Hedges are SO important. I would complain to the council if it looks unrecoverable

WellErrr · 23/04/2016 21:09

Report her. Silly cow.

Original poster
settledandsmug · 23/04/2016 21:23

Seriously unrecoverable! About 7 or 8 bushes are just stumps! About half the length of the hedgerow is now non existent. I sincerely wish I'd acted earlier, but it just wasn't possible.

OP posts:
monkeywithacowface · 23/04/2016 21:28

Yes report her otherwise she'll keep bloody doing it!

Medusacascade · 23/04/2016 21:39

Report. I belive it's still an offence to cut back hedgerows in bird nesting season. I'm related to a dry stone Waller/hedge layer and I remember him Being livid when conservation charities used to destroy hedges which birds were nesting in.

SweetLathyrus · 23/04/2016 21:54

Kanga , it is not 'just the beginning of the nesting season - with no eggs laid yet', I have been picking birds eggs out of my garden for some weeks, many birds nest much earlier than you think. Just because BBC Spring Watch films nests in late May, doesn't mean that's the starting. Block.

Settle, your neighbour shouldn't have done this, but you don't want to ruin relations; perhaps a gentle world that the council has always kept the bushes in check?

Catfartstink · 23/04/2016 22:34

The first batch in my garden have hatched too. The blinking chirping woke me up the other morning at about 5am woke with a smile though

If it's not going to recover I think you do need to say something to the council. If your on good terms you could ask her "what she's planning on planting, is she planning on replanting with native hedges?"

Veterinari · 23/04/2016 22:39

Def report or it will happen again

Stratter5 · 23/04/2016 23:27

Some birds are on their second brood here, God knows where the idea that it's only just the beginning of nesting season came from.

And yes. It is illegal to disturb nests.

ConferencePear · 23/04/2016 23:29

I have a blackbird and a wren nesting in my very small garden. She should not have cut the hedge.

SlinkyVagabond · 24/04/2016 08:47

Gah, this has irritated me so much. Why do some people insist on "tidying" wild areas? I can imagine her own garden as a sterile, wildlife unfriendly patch. Ignorant woman.

DailyFailAreABunchOfCunts · 24/04/2016 09:31

She probably doesn't know any better, so it's very important that someone tells her and stops her from doing it again. I'm sure she had the best of intentions, but given that the land doesn't belong to her, she should have checked with the owner (i.e. the council).

If you think that she would respond positively to a chat with you - if you have a quick word along the lines of 'Just to let you know in case you didn't realise...', then that's what I'd do. However if you don't feel confident to do this or think that she might respond negatively, then I would report and let the council deal with it.

OhGodWhatTheHellNow · 24/04/2016 10:29

The stumps may well grow back, if left alone (have you ever tried to get rid of willow?) She needs to be reported or she will continue to 'tidy' and the hedge won't have a chance. I hate this sort of compulsive over-tidy shit. She needs to know she is not helpful or appreciated.

Greyponcho · 24/04/2016 10:38

Whilst it is no illegal to remove vegetation just becasue its in the bird breeding season, it cannot be odne if there are breeding birds there as it is illegal to disturb or destroy the nest. Officially, this starts 1st March, but after a mild winter, many birds started weeks before this & therefore any nests should be checked by a qualified ecologist not more than 24 hours before the planned removal of the vegetation.

That 'natural selection' that was mentioned above is bullshit Angry.

It'd be worth ringing up the council and asking if there were tree protection orders on the hedge - say you're not happy it has been removed and wondered who on earth gave Mrs. Hedge-destroyer at number 666 permission to remove it?

Sad at the habitat that has been lost for so many species...

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