It's very true Edd, the contractors always know their work and when things are wrong. Trouble is one needs to know who is contracting the contractors to make a difference. The guys on the ground are often just told to go out and do the job by their bosses, so one has to find out who on the council is contracting the company to work at less than appropriate times.
No Edd, I think you are slightly wrong. The council tell the Highways department of the council to get the job done. I've tried the highways department; they have no choice in the matter. The order comes down from on high, and the contractor would certainly be ex-contractors if they said it was the wrong time of year or even wrong month to do the job.
On the other hand the Government Highways Department is much more clued up. Planting native plants in the islands of trunk roads. Replacing dead plants in newly planted hedges. Planting food-bearing trees and shrubs and only cutting verges for road safety reasons. Weed-killing round newly planted trees until they are established.
cutting hedges when there is a chance of nesting birds is illegal under the wildlife and countryside act, that's why hedges shouldn't be hard cut (or cut with a flail) between early February and late October.
I have reported numerous farmers and two local authorities (one which I was working for at the time!) in the past - three prosecutions took place.
trimming is acceptable only after a survey has been done to make sure there are no active nests.
Remember I am in Wales. Perhaps we do it differently.
My observations are only as it is done locally. I relish the thought of a member of the public walking up to the contractors on a country lane and telling them how to do their hedge and verge cutting! I would like to be there.
Some people put up notices asking the contractors not to mow the orchids, but it makes little difference.
I did not mean to imply that the Highways Agency actually did the work. That would be silly. I just meant to point out the different between the enlightened attitude of the Highways Agency in some areas and respects and local councillors.
Look at the Natural England website where it is all set out. Recommended time for cutting hedges is January and February on a three year rotation. Interesting.
I've worked with the UK Highways Agency, there is an over-ridding clause in the WCA regarding public interest and health and safety. This is often given as the reason for mowing/strimming the verges and cutting hedges out of season, as there has to be a certain amount of verge and road signs cannot be covered over by vegetation. Often it could be done in season, but this clause makes it convenient to do it whenever and ignore the Natural England guidelines.
I seriously considered reporting my local farmer for what he did to the hedges this year. I do find it awkward to get involved right on my own doorstep though. I think like most on here I like to come home to the peace and quiet of my garden and leave some issues on the outside.
There is a massive difference between clearing obstructions round signs and keeping drains clear and clear mowing the whole wide verge and the bordering hedge up to the height of the cutter just so that a pass isn't wasted as the contractor goes up and down the road in perhaps three passes each side.
You're right Gemma, I would be very reluctant to 'dob' my neighbours in for anything. I'm sad for the wildlife destroyed but massacring hedges at the correct time actually does them little harm; it just looks awful until the leaves appear.
I appreciate exactly what you are saying Welshonion regarding the level of work that is often done and how it is approached. Often the contractor is told to do the job, so they do and to get more work they want to leave it all very neat and tidy. The person contracting them may be oblivious of obligations under the WCA and never ever sees the work area to know if the work is good or bad. They are probably more worried about the public complaining it looks messy rather than anything else.
What really is needed is a total change in attitude across the board with how we view hedgerows and verges - but then that has been said by many for a long time now.
The harm done with any form of vegetation removal is hard to know without pre-works surveys. I have to say though that badly timed work can be devastating for a huge range of species.
Posts
It's very true Edd, the contractors always know their work and when things are wrong. Trouble is one needs to know who is contracting the contractors to make a difference. The guys on the ground are often just told to go out and do the job by their bosses, so one has to find out who on the council is contracting the company to work at less than appropriate times.
On the other hand the Government Highways Department is much more clued up. Planting native plants in the islands of trunk roads. Replacing dead plants in newly planted hedges. Planting food-bearing trees and shrubs and only cutting verges for road safety reasons. Weed-killing round newly planted trees until they are established.
cutting hedges when there is a chance of nesting birds is illegal under the wildlife and countryside act, that's why hedges shouldn't be hard cut (or cut with a flail) between early February and late October.
I have reported numerous farmers and two local authorities (one which I was working for at the time!) in the past - three prosecutions took place.
trimming is acceptable only after a survey has been done to make sure there are no active nests.
My observations are only as it is done locally. I relish the thought of a member of the public walking up to the contractors on a country lane and telling them how to do their hedge and verge cutting! I would like to be there.
Some people put up notices asking the contractors not to mow the orchids, but it makes little difference.
I did not mean to imply that the Highways Agency actually did the work. That would be silly. I just meant to point out the different between the enlightened attitude of the Highways Agency in some areas and respects and local councillors.
I've worked with the UK Highways Agency, there is an over-ridding clause in the WCA regarding public interest and health and safety. This is often given as the reason for mowing/strimming the verges and cutting hedges out of season, as there has to be a certain amount of verge and road signs cannot be covered over by vegetation. Often it could be done in season, but this clause makes it convenient to do it whenever and ignore the Natural England guidelines.
I seriously considered reporting my local farmer for what he did to the hedges this year. I do find it awkward to get involved right on my own doorstep though. I think like most on here I like to come home to the peace and quiet of my garden and leave some issues on the outside.
You're right Gemma, I would be very reluctant to 'dob' my neighbours in for anything. I'm sad for the wildlife destroyed but massacring hedges at the correct time actually does them little harm; it just looks awful until the leaves appear.
I appreciate exactly what you are saying Welshonion regarding the level of work that is often done and how it is approached. Often the contractor is told to do the job, so they do and to get more work they want to leave it all very neat and tidy. The person contracting them may be oblivious of obligations under the WCA and never ever sees the work area to know if the work is good or bad. They are probably more worried about the public complaining it looks messy rather than anything else.
What really is needed is a total change in attitude across the board with how we view hedgerows and verges - but then that has been said by many for a long time now.
The harm done with any form of vegetation removal is hard to know without pre-works surveys. I have to say though that badly timed work can be devastating for a huge range of species.
I cut a lawson's cypress hedge last week, It's fine even after a frost midweek. It only had a light trim though.