Hedgerow management rules: cutting and trimming

These rules came into force on 23 May 2024.

The hedgerow management rules aim to protect hedgerows on agricultural land as these are important ecological building blocks across our landscapes. Hedgerows provide habitat, act as wildlife corridors, slow soil erosion and water run-off. They also support crop pollinators and sequester carbon as well as enriching the landscape.

You must not cut or trim a hedgerow that is covered by the rules from 1 March to 31 August. You must not cause or permit another person to cut or trim such a hedgerow.  

A hedgerow is a line of bushes which can include trees. Any trees growing in a hedgerow will be treated as part of the hedgerow. Where a line of trees does not meet this definition, and it is not being managed as a hedgerow, it will not be covered by the rules. The rules also include hedgerows on top of a traditional hedgerow bank. 

The cutting and trimming rules apply to a hedgerow if it meets the criteria for both: 

more than 20m long with gaps of 20m or less in its length 

less than 20m long, but meets another hedgerow at each end 

Any gap of 20 metres or less will be treated as part of the hedgerow.

The rules apply if a hedgerow is growing on, or next to, land used for agriculture, including:  

It includes grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens, nursery grounds and allotments. And woodlands where agricultural activities take place.  

In this context, ‘next to’ means hedgerows which are on agricultural land which borders other land such as golf courses and village halls.

Cutting or trimming is permitted from 1 March to 31 August in the following situations.