FW hedgecutting petition collects nearly 1,000 names
© Tim Scrivener Nearly 1,000 people have signed a Farmers Weekly petition urging Defra to repeal the August hedgecutting ban on arable land.
As the cutting season closed for six months this week, hundreds more farmers added their names to our appeal.
As of Wednesday 1 March, farmers and farm contractors are not allowed to trim hedges on arable land again until 1 September – unless they apply to Defra for a derogation that is later approved.
See also: Farmers and contractors back our hedgecutting petition
Farm contractors across the UK have been working around the clock this week to finish hedgecutting work on farms before the start of the six-month closed period.
Closed period for hedge cutting and trimming starts on 1st March for cross-compliance under GAEC 7a ruleshttps://t.co/vfjaFNMDzA #BPS #TCS
— Townsend TCS (@Townsend_TCS) February 20, 2017
Defra extended the hedgecutting ban in 2015 to cover August, citing an EU directive “to protect nesting birds”.
However, farmers and contractors say the August ban causes disruption to their businesses and many are not convinced that birds other than wood pigeons are still nesting in August.
The NFU says the August hedgecutting ban is overregulation and unfair as it doesn’t consider the seasonal variability of different areas in the UK.
But wildlife campaigners say the ban is crucial to protect some species.
Here are some of your comments so far:
“We need to be able to cut hedges in wet harvest intervals, so we can complete harvest in September.” E Daniels, Ellingham, Norfolk
“On our heavy land there is not enough time in September to complete vital hedgecutting. Most nesting birds have flown by mid-August.” James Hodge, Buntingford, Hertfordshire
“As a bird lover the last thing I want to do is damage birds. I have never in nearly 60 years found a nest in August.” Michael Morris, Newport, Wales
“The (August) ban is not based on good science, is full of inconsistencies and is disruptive to farm work.” J Dewar, Doncaster, south Yorkshire
Sign our petition if you are concerned the ban will harm your business and have your voice heard.