Hedgerow removal
The Hedgerow Regulations 1997, protects hedgerows in rural areas. This means, you cannot remove them without permission.
The Hegerow Regulations do not include:
- garden hedges
- coppicing
- other forms of management that do not remove the roots
If you want to remove a rural hedgerow, you must:
- let us know at least six weeks before you want to start work
- send us details of the work you are planning to do
- give us enough details so that we can identify the location of the hedgerow
When we receive your notification we will:
- confirm we have received it
- use the confirmation date as the start of the six weeks’ notice period
- assess the hedgerow to see if it is important
- issue a Hedgerow Retention notice if the hedgerow is important
If we issue a Hedgerow Retention notice, you will not be able to remove the hedgerow.
If we do not issue a Hedgerow Retention notice within six weeks, you can remove the hedgerow.
Tree surgeons and contractors
If you are carrying out work to trees and hedgerows, you should use contractors with:
- suitable qualifications
- the right type and level of insurance
We do not have a list of tree surgeons and cannot make individual recommendations. You can find information and guidance from the Arboricultural Association.
