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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Gardening warning as cutting back hedges in July 'could land you in jail'
Gardeners are being warned to take care when cutting back hedges this month as they could be breaking the law - and face an unlimited fine and potential six month jail term Green-fingered Brits are being cautioned against falling foul of the law this July, with warnings that illegal hedge trimming could land them in hot water – including potential jail time and an 'unlimited fine'. As the sun continues to shine across the UK, hordes of garden enthusiasts are rolling up their sleeves for some much-needed garden sprucing. However, before you set about tidying your hedges, be aware that there's more at stake than just the aesthetics of your garden. Not only does cutting back hedges during their flowering period affect their growth, but it could also see you breaching environmental regulations. READ MORE: Savvy shoppers save £100 on permanent hair removal gadget plus an extra 20% off It's strictly forbidden to cut farm hedgerows from April 1 to August 31 without a special licence, except under exceptional circumstances. While domestic garden hedges can be trimmed during this period, any harm to bird nests within them could see you on the wrong side of the law. With many birds still nesting and raising chicks even into July, the experts at Husqvana have issued a stark reminder: "Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use. "That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird's nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed." The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) echoes this sentiment, reinforcing the importance of protecting our feathered friends during this critical time, reports the Express. The charity warns that a person is flouting the law by intentionally damaging a bird's nest during its construction or use, noting: "The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it". Committing this offence could result in an unlimited fine and up to six months behind bars. The RSPB cautions: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking." When asked about what occurs if you wreck a bird's nest, they explained: "Pieces of environmental legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended are regulated by a combination of the police, Natural England / Natural Resources Wales / Scottish Natural Heritage (based on location), the Environment Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the local authorities, the Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), various public bodies, and relevant organisations based on the endangered species in question. "Once an action breaking the rules of the Act has been carried out, the offence will inevitably result in a police investigation. The police will enforce part 1 of the Act, as it focuses on the fundamental wildlife protection over wildlife species and what exactly necessitates a breach of the rules. "In fact, dedicated departments of the police specialise in breaches of environmental and wildlife laws, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs). "Any law relating to the environment and wildlife are taken just as seriously as any other piece of active legislation. "Even in respect of a breach of the Act involving a single animal or habitat, the person responsible would be liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine, spend up to six months in prison, or possibly even both."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Gardeners facing 'unlimited fine' or jail time for cutting hedges in July
Trimming or cutting your hedges this month could land you in some serious legal bother due to strict environmental law Gardeners have been warned they may be unknowingly breaking the law when trimming hedges this month which could lead to jail time or an 'unlimited fine'. While the UK has been hit with a heatwave over the past few weeks, gardeners have been making the most of the weather to make sure everything looks neat and tidy in their outdoor spaces. However, if you are planning on cutting your hedges, you should know that as well as the implications for the hedge's growth while flowering, you may also break a very serious environmental law. Farm hedgerows can not legally be cut between April 1 and August 31 at all, apart from in extreme circumstances, which would require a licence. It legal to trim down domestic garden hedges in the summer but if it causes intentional damage or destroys a bird's nest, then you're still breaking the law. Many birds are still nesting and feeding their young in July, the Express reports. Experts at Husqvana explain: 'Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use. "That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird's nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed.' The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds backs this up. It states that a person is breaking the law if they intentionally damage a bird's nest while it's being used or built, and this also applies to trimming hedges. It says:'The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it'. Gardeners have been warned that breaking this law could land you an unlimited fine and six months in prison. The RSPB adds: 'The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking.' What happens if you destroy a bird's nest Wildlife experts Arbtech explain how the act is prosecuted in practice. They said: "Pieces of environmental legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended are regulated by a combination of the police, Natural England / Natural Resources Wales / Scottish Natural Heritage (based on location), the Environment Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the local authorities, the Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), various public bodies, and relevant organisations based on the endangered species in question. "Once an action breaking the rules of the Act has been carried out, the offence will inevitably result in a police investigation. "The police will enforce part 1 of the Act, as it focuses on the fundamental wildlife protection over wildlife species and what exactly necessitates a breach of the rules. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here an d get the latest news sent straight to your messages "In fact, dedicated departments of the police specialise in breaches of environmental and wildlife laws, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs). "Any law relating to the environment and wildlife are taken just as seriously as any other piece of active legislation. "Even in respect of a breach of the Act involving a single animal or habitat, the person responsible would be liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine, spend up to six months in prison, or possibly even both."
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
June warning to gardeners cutting their hedge this month
Trimming the hedges is a job that comes with risks, warn experts If you're desperate to get the garden in shape this summer, there's one job you may want to hang off setting about just yet. Cutting your hedge this month could land you in legal bother and see you fined or even facing jail time. That's because hedge cutting is covered by environmental law. And if you cut your hedge and damage or destroy a bird's nest in the process you can end up being prosecuted which can lead to an 'unlimited' fine. As the law stands, farm hedgerows cannot legally be cut between the dates of April 1 and August 31. In extreme circumstances, farmers can plead their case to cut hedges if they have a reason but it would require them to be granted a licence allowing them to do this. And while it is actually legal to cut a domestic hedge, gardeners would have to be extra careful there are no birds nest in it before getting the hedge trimmer out. If you do damage or destroy a hedge while cutting, intentionally or unintentionally, you are breaking the law, reports the Express. That's because many birds are still nesting and feeding their young in June. Experts at Husqvana explained: 'Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use. That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird's nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed." The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) backs this up. It says that a person is breaking that law if they intentionally damage a bird's nest while it's being used or built, and this applies to trimming hedges, saying: "The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it". Breaking this law could land you an unlimited fine and even six months in prison. The RSPB adds: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking." They said: "Pieces of environmental legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended are regulated by a combination of the police, Natural England / Natural Resources Wales / Scottish Natural Heritage (based on location), the Environment Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the local authorities, the Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), various public bodies, and relevant organisations based on the endangered species in question. "Once an action breaking the rules of the Act has been carried out, the offence will inevitably result in a police investigation. "The police will enforce part 1 of the Act, as it focuses on the fundamental wildlife protection over wildlife species and what exactly necessitates a breach of the rules. "In fact, dedicated departments of the police specialise in breaches of environmental and wildlife laws, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs). "Any law relating to the environment and wildlife are taken just as seriously as any other piece of active legislation. "Even in respect of a breach of the Act involving a single animal or habitat, the person responsible would be liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine, spend up to six months in prison, or possibly even both."
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
June warning that gardeners who cut hedges could 'face jail and unlimited fine'
If gardeners are cutting hedges and a bird's nest is damaged or destroyed - intentionally or otherwise - then they're breaking the law and could face a fine or jail time Green-fingered Brits are being warned against falling foul of the law this June as they spruce up their gardens, with warnings that illegal hedge trimming could land them in hot water – including potential jail time and an 'unlimited fine'. With the sun making a welcome return recently, albeit punctuated by showers, gardening enthusiasts have been eagerly tending to their outdoor spaces, keen to ensure their greenery is looking shipshape. However, those reaching for the shears to neaten up their hedges might not just be impacting the plant's health during its blooming period but could also inadvertently breach environmental regulations. Strict rules prohibit the cutting of farm hedgerows from April 1 to August 31, barring exceptional circumstances which would necessitate a licence. While domestic garden hedges can be legally trimmed during this period, any harm caused to bird nests, whether deliberate or accidental, constitutes a legal infringement. With many birds still in the midst of nesting and rearing chicks in June, specialists at Husqvana highlight the legal implications: "Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use. "That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird's nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed." This stance is backed up by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, reports the Express. According to the RSPB, anyone who intentionally damages a bird's nest while it is in use or under construction is in breach of the law, and this includes trimming hedges. The charity states: "The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it." Violating this law may lead to an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. The RSPB adds: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking." Wildlife specialists Arbtech provide insight into how the legislation is enforced in practice. They state: "Pieces of environmental legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended are regulated by a combination of the police, Natural England/Natural Resources Wales/Scottish Natural Heritage (based on location), the Environment Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the local authorities, the Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), various public bodies, and relevant organisations based on the endangered species in question. "Once an action breaking the rules of the Act has been carried out, the offence will inevitably result in a police investigation. "The police will enforce part 1 of the Act, as it focuses on the fundamental wildlife protection over wildlife species and what exactly necessitates a breach of the rules. "In fact, dedicated departments of the police specialise in breaches of environmental and wildlife laws, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs). "Any law relating to the environment and wildlife are taken just as seriously as any other piece of active legislation. "Even in respect of a breach of the Act involving a single animal or habitat, the person responsible would be liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine, spend up to six months in prison, or possibly even both."
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Daily Record
Gardeners warned over cutting hedges this month as they risk a fine
One little-known law could see householders face an unlimited fine if they trim their hedge in May. If you're getting your garden sorted for summer it pays to know about a law that could see you hit with an unlimited fine or even jail time. Trimming your hedge this month could see you prosecuted thanks to an environmental law many might be unaware of. Gardeners are being urged not fall foul if the laws by checking their hedges carefully before setting about them. Before getting the hedge trimmer out, they need to look for birds nesting in the hedge as intentionally damaging a wild bird nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Under the act, farm hedgerows cannot legally be cut between April 1 and August 31 at all, apart from in extreme circumstances. But this would require a licence. And while it is legal for homeowners to cut hedges at this time of year, the law states that if it causes a bird's nest to be damaged or destroyed - intentionally or otherwise - then you're still breaking the law. Experts at Husqvana explained: 'Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use," reports The Express. "That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird's nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed.' The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) backs this up. Wildlife experts Arbtech have explained how the act is prosecuted in practice. They said: "Pieces of environmental legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended are regulated by a combination of the police, Natural England / Natural Resources Wales / Scottish Natural Heritage (based on location), the Environment Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the local authorities, the Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), various public bodies, and relevant organisations based on the endangered species in question. "It says that a person is breaking that law if they intentionally damage a bird's nest while it's being used or built, and this applies to trimming hedges, saying: 'The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it'." Breaking this law could land you an unlimited fine and six months in prison. The RSPB adds: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking. "Once an action breaking the rules of the Act has been carried out, the offence will inevitably result in a police investigation. "The police will enforce part 1 of the Act, as it focuses on the fundamental wildlife protection over wildlife species and what exactly necessitates a breach of the rules. "In fact, dedicated departments of the police specialise in breaches of environmental and wildlife laws, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs). "Any law relating to the environment and wildlife are taken just as seriously as any other piece of active legislation. "Even in respect of a breach of the Act involving a single animal or habitat, the person responsible would be liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine, spend up to six months in prison, or possibly even both."
