Who Do I Report It To?!

[louisesgarden]

It is an offence, i work for the police and the last similar incident i had reported was of someone shooting blackbirds in their garden. The RSPCA inspector took the case over, went to the house removed the dead birds, and brought proscecution. The only bird you can legally control, is pigeons (sorry pigeon lovers) and you can only do this if they pose a threat to edible food, ie lotties etc

[sweetiepea]

It's appalling. I had a row with a guy yesterday who was boasting to everyone about the huge ivy he had decimated. It was wilful destruction. He had absolutely no concern for the birds that were probably nesting in it, not to mention other wildlife. I have loads of it growing over the old sheds. It’s a haven. Yer man got a shock when another guy said he was going to report him (he knew the site etc.). Too good for him!

SarsWiz, I'm behind you 100%. What about your local coucil - can't they do something. Is the council the allotment owner/landlord?

[Two_Sheds]

My neighbour was scything back his ivy today, and I said "have you found the nest yet? There's a blackbird nest in there" at which point he stopped and said he'd wait a few weeks.

Our beloved council has just grubbed out a superb hawthorn hedge and replaced it with easy-care wire fence ... and ruined a perfectly good and much-needed nest site.

[SarzWix]

Well, I've had a chat with a couple of people this afternoon, and 2 things have come to light:
At least one senior member of the committee has condoned the hedge removal, saying that it was 'restricting access for vehicles down the path', which is crap, it just needed cutting back again the same as we did with it last year. Incidentally, no vehicles ever actually go down the path...
The neighbours on the other side say that they hadn't noticed the nest, although "there was always birds coming and going". So if I try and do anything about nest destruction, chances are it's going to be my word against his (he's already burnt it all), and the committee are likely to back him

So I'm going to call the council on Monday and find out if he'd given notice of hedge removal, and if anything can be done from that angle.

[jacob marley]

I think it is DEFRA are the people that matter they are the people that advise ag contrators when and what .
Have a look on there website and you might find the right page .
As far as i am aware you need a licence to cut a hedge out of hedge cutting season let alone rip one out .
And local planning department first thing monday morning i think your committee man over reached himself give e'm some stick Gal....jacob

[SarzWix]

Thanks Jacob, and everyone else for the responses. I've had a look at the DEFRA pages and it says

Local planning authority permission is required before removing hedges that are at least 20 metres (66 feet) in length, more than 30 years old and contain certain species of plant.

As the hedge wasn't as long as 20 metres, it looks like it wasn't protected Looks like I haven't got any avenues left except a formal complaint to the committee, unless I can find someone else that had spotted the nesting birds.

Gutted

[BumbleB]

The page that I linked to earlier at the RSPB says the following:


It is illegal to remove most hedges
without permission. Serious damage to
the root system or over-maintenance
resulting in the death of the hedgerow
counts as removal. There are
exceptions, including essential work
carried out by the utility companies
and emergency access. Proper
maintenance, including drastic looking
measures such as coppicing, severe
pruning and laying is allowed without
specific permission. A landowner who
wishes to remove a hedgerow must
serve a Hedgerow Removal Notice in
writing on their local planning
authority, who should assess the status
of the hedge and whether or not it is
protected from removal. Where the
regulations apply, it is an offence to
intentionally or recklessly remove a
hedgerow, or to cause or permit its
removal without giving notice, without
acting in accordance with the terms of
the notice given or without either
having approval from the authority or

waiting 42 days from the date of the
notice before starting work.
Landowners who are in receipt of
agricultural subsidies will also have
conditions regarding hedgerow
protection put on them (see Cross
compliance below).

For further information, please visit the
RSPB’s website http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/WBATL_tcm9-132998.pdf

So surely you need to report it to RSPB and also your local planning officer at district council. I am sure RSPB will advise and support you further.