Hedgerows!

[Headfry]

or should I title this 'anger management needed'!

So, It's autumn and look at all those lovely hedgerows, full of berries, that is good for the birds and other wildlife- they depend on this!

So, what have they done....Slashed the hedgerows back!!!

I just dont understand WHY they did it

I am so angry

Not a berry in sight. Yet councils have us fretting over the tiniest morsel of plastic and which bin we should place it in.....

I am just sooooo angry at their stupidity. Wait 1 or 2 more months and the birds etc will have stripped the berries.......grrrrrr
going to find chocolate now, to calm me down
Maybe I need anger management!

[bluemoon]

I never understand this either, our local council claim to be eco-aware and don't cut back hedges in spring due to nesting birds, then when the young have fledged they starve them to death.

[Flummery]

One of the farmers round here slashes thm in April - mid nesting time. They aren't supposed to but what can you do? When you've noticed it - it's too late!

[SlugLobber]

They've started it round our way, too. I always thought they were supposed to do it in October, but it's not just the council doing it now, it's the farmers. Trouble is, what with Health and Safety, the farmers and council have to cut back the sightlines to maximize visibility, so the morons who drive at 100mph can see the tree they're about to smack into. Stupid, innit?

[Headfry]

'see the tree they are about to smash into'

Well (soapbox moment no2) they are taking out loads of big trees round us too! WHY when the stumps look (to my untrained eye) perfect

Is it just in case they fall or a car crashes into them! WHAT

[bluemoon]

It's because they employ all these big muscley men with these chainsaw thingies and they have to give them something to do. Then there are the men who build walls and the ones who put up metal crash barrier wotsits, all have to be kept occupied. So the solution is obvious, take out the trees and replace them with something ugly and man made, then increase the council tax to pay for it all.

[bubblewrap]

I was working at Calke Abbey (National Trust)as part of the "New Deal" sceme earlier this year.
We were trimming a blackthorn hedge back (by hand)& we had to look for birds nests before we cut the first branch.
No nests were found & I got some nice walking sticks.

[Two_Sheds]

I noticed the farmers round here doing their hedges too. Maybe a stiff letter to the council and to the local rag? 'They' probably aren't even aware that hedges provide food for birds.

(and last night I found 2 elder trees groaning with berries)

[SlugLobber]

They should be aware, as there are laws to prohibit the cutting of such hedges between sometime in March (or beg of April) until now, due to nesting birds. That's why you see a sudden rush of cutting types out there at this time of year.

[kentvegplot]

Make a fuss to the local council. It's just dumb. Our council workers come and cut the grass on a patch near to us on any day they can, doesn't matter if it's pouring with rain , they'll still cut it and churn it to mud.

[Peter]

In case none of you noticed, once the farmers have harvested their crops the field is empty. It is also usually dry with firm ground.
That is when they can drive the tractor with the chainflail around cutting the hedges without damaging any crops.
After that the field is cultivated and new crops sown.

Traditionally hedge-laying used to be a winter activity in more labour intensive times, gives a far richer hedge over time.