It is easy to trim a hedge into a regular rectangle, but you are often faced with a problem where the bottom of the hedge starts looking a bit sparse whilst the top half is looking lush and green. This is because the bottom of the hedge is less likely to receive sunlight due to its neighbouring branches above.
It is worth considering tapering the trimming of a hedge to ensure it is wider at the bottom than at the top. This will make trimming the hedge easier in general and will help to make sure the base of the hedge gets more light, and hopefully it will become as green as the top.
This has a knock-on effect and helps to provide additional cover for wildlife, which will use hedgerows as a corridor to travel from one area to another, safe from predators, and to also form an important part of our history and our landscape.
According to the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, generally any hedge longer than 20m is considered a hedgerow and is protected. If it is older than 30 years old, it is considered ‘Important’, and any removal is prohibited unless you have requested permission from your local authority.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 gives protection to nesting birds which are between March and August. Therefore, any maintenance should be considered outside of this timeframe.
For further advice on landscape management, please contact ACD Environmental.