Gardeners face ‘unlimited fine’ and 6 months jail for trimming hedge in June

Everyone with a garden is being told not to trim their hedges in June because it could land you an ‘unlimited fine’ as well as six months in prison.

There’s a little known law governing hedges and hedgerows in the UK which applies from March until August.

Though many probably inadvertently broke the law as they broke out the hedge trimmers and the secateurs over the sunny weekend, it’s still the case that gardeners could get in trouble if they aren’t careful thanks to a little known environmental law.

Farm hedgerows cannot legally be cut between April 1 and August 31 at all because of laws to protect nesting birds.

While it’s technically legal to trim some types of domestic garden hedges at this time of year, if it causes a bird’s nest to be damaged or destroyed - intentionally or otherwise - then you’re still breaking the law.

Wood Street Care Leicester says: “It’s illegal to cut your hedges during bird nesting season, which runs from March to August.

“Cutting your hedge during bird nesting season can damage or destroy nests, which is harmful to the birds. It’s also illegal to trim hedges on your property if they’re taller than 20 metres without permission from the local council.”

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.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 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.

“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. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking.”