Help shape the management and protection of England’s hedgerows

This consultation invites your views on the proposed use of civil and criminal sanctions, with civil measures addressing less severe breaches and criminal penalties reserved for more serious offences.

 

Hedgerows are vital wildlife havens and essential for preserving biodiversity in the face of intensive farming's barren impact. We urge you to support robust regulations to protect these critical habitats—share your thoughts in Defra’s consultation to help shape a sustainable future for our countryside

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​The consultation is a survey style, with some boxes to explain your answer. We've written some guidance to help you reply to this consultation. These points focus on urging stronger protections for hedgerows. ​

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Question 1: Do you agree with civil sanctions as a tool for enforcement?

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Option 1: Answering Yes:

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• Suggested Answer: Yes.
  Civil sanctions are an important tool for ensuring compliance with hedgerow management rules. Enforcement helps safeguard these vital habitats from harm.

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• Why This Works: By answering “Yes,” you express support for holding people accountable for damaging actions, while relying on the statutory guidance's inclusion of education and advice to ensure positive engagement.

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Option 2: Answering No (if concerned about balance):

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• Suggested Answer: No.

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• Explanation for the comment box:

Civil sanctions are a necessary tool to ensure compliance with hedgerow management rules and to deter harmful practices. However, sanctions should be complemented by proactive measures that encourage positive behaviour, such as educational initiatives and financial incentives for land managers.

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Question 2: Do you agree with the proposed appeals process?

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• Suggested Answer: No.

• Explanation for the comment box:
  The appeals process should consider biodiversity protection as a priority. Suggest involving independent conservation experts in appeals to ensure decisions fully reflect the importance of hedgerows as wildlife habitats and corridors.

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Question 3: Do you agree with publishing the details of enforcement actions?

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• Suggested Answer: Yes.

• Publishing enforcement actions increases transparency and accountability, which can encourage compliance. Suggest that case studies be anonymised where necessary and focus on the ecological benefits of enforcement actions.

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Question 4: If you have any comments about the statutory guidance at Annex A in relation to either its factual accuracy, clarity, or intelligibility... 

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• Expand the no-cutting period:

  • While the no-cutting period of 1 March to 31 August covers the main bird nesting season, several species are still vulnerable outside these dates. Examples include robins, blackbirds, wood-pigeons, and song thrushes, which may nest from February to September or beyond.

  • Propose extending the no-cutting period or requiring checks for active nests at all times, regardless of dates, to comply with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

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• Improve clarity on enforcement actions:

  • Enforcement procedures like compliance notices and stop notices could benefit from clearer explanations, such as step-by-step flowcharts or practical examples.

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• Include diagrams and examples for buffer zones:

  • The guidance on buffer zones (e.g., pesticide restrictions) could be made more intelligible with visuals showing compliant hedgerow management practices.

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(please feel free to use these points in your response!)