Wanted: Farmers to attend hedgecutting petition handover

A petition organised by Farmers Weekly seeking to get the August hedgecutting ban overturned is set to be presented to Defra early next week.

Ahead of the handover, Farmers Weekly is organising a gathering of contractors and farmers in the East Midlands, aiming for a show of strength, before the petition makes its way to London.

The event takes place at farmer/contractor Bob Rutt’s Cottons Farm, The Cottons, Rockingham, Northamptonshire LE16 8TF at 11.30am this Friday (28 April).

See also: Why you should get behind our hedgecutting ban

Time and place

  • Date: Friday 28 April
  • Time: 11.30am
  • Postcode: LE16 8TF

We are hoping that as many farmers and contractors as possible will come along, preferably with their tractors and hedge trimmers, for a photo opportunity and to send the clearest message to government.

Damaging

The petition, which has attracted almost 2,000 signatures, aims to highlight the damage being done by the August ban to rural businesses.

Introduced by Defra in 2015, the ban is intended to protect nesting birds. But the reality is that few birds are still nesting at that time of year and any chicks that are hatched then will unlikely survive the winter.  

Meanwhile, farmers and contractors are unable to get on with important work at the optimum time of year – immediately after harvest, while the land is still dry.

The ban is also unjustified in that it singles out farmers. Golf courses, woodland, local parks and highways are not subject to the same restriction.

The lost business is costing individual farm contractors thousands of pounds.

If you feel the August ban should go, then please join us at Cottons Farm on Friday.

The petition will initially be handed over to Corby and East Northamptonshire MP Tom Pursglove, who will then deliver it on our behalf to Defra next week.

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