When would be the best time to pull out an overgrown shrub hedge( thinking of birds and hedgehogs)

[FlynG1n76]

Possibly a snowberry .It needs to go as choking 2 lovely trees and has got out of control. We have hedgehogs and birds in the garden so thinking before March but worried about disturbing hedgehogs.

Sorry just blatantly placemarking as we have a shrub that needs cutting back and I'm worried about the birds too.

Haven't seen a Hedgehog in years though

The Rspb recommends that you avoid works between March and April to avoid disturbing nesting birds. Because spring seems to be starting earlier, I'd be tempted to do any work sooner rather than later.

I don't know too much about hedgehogs, I'd advise you to contact the hedgehog preservation society or St Tiggywinkles for specific information. I'm very jealous that you've got them in your garden.

I have heard that hedgehogs can be injured by strimmers and the like, so have a good poke round for them before doing any work.

Perhaps get a hedgehog house and put down hedgehog food somewhere away from the bush to attract them somewhere safer. I've seen bags of hedgehog food in garden centres or cat food is acceptable but not bread and milk, it makes them poorly.

Snowberry can be cut back as hard as you like - could you just cut it right back rather than remove completely?