Hedgerow regulations enforced to protect wildlife

English hedgerows will be protected by law as the government sets out its plans for domestic hedgerow regulations, following a consultation last year.

Backed by over 95 per cent of consultation responses, and providing continuity for farmers and land managers, the regulations will include a two metre ‘buffer strip’ from the centre of hedgerows with no cultivation or application of pesticides or fertilisers, and a hedge cutting ban between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is also aiming for a "fairer, more proportionate enforcement approach" to provide farmers with advice on how to comply with requirements.

They said the regulations will support the efforts of many farmers already carrying out vital work to protect hedgerows, providing important ecological benefits including wildlife habitats, slowing soil erosion and water run-off, supporting crop pollinators and absorbing carbon.

This includes over 90,000km of hedgerows being managed through 16,000 agreements in the government’s Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, and more than 13,000km of hedgerows created or restored using Countryside Stewardship grants.

Mark Spencer, farming minister, said he is "delighted" that farmers are taking up the support on offer from the Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes.

He said: "Farmers have been protecting, planting and maintaining our hedgerows for centuries and I want to thank them for their continued efforts to help wildlife thrive on their farms alongside food production."

The new requirements will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows and will be regulated by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) who will provide advice and guidance to help farmers comply with the regulations. The government will also introduce civil and criminal sanctions to enable the RPA to take appropriate and proportionate actions against anyone causing serious or repeated damage.