TRIM EVERY YEAR TO BOOST BERRIES

TRIMMING HEDGEROWS every year could preserve berry production more effectively than cutting every third year, as the new ELS hedgerow management guidelines will suggest, says the Farmed Environment Company’s Marek Nowakowski.

The new rules aim to encourage berry production, which happens on second year growth, he says. “But if farmers haven’t been able to cut for three years they are likely to cut hedges back quite severely.

“And if that happens in August or September because there’s an opportunity, rather than February as intended, there won’t be any berries in year three.”

 Done properly, annual trimming can encourage more berries.