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Protected trees and hedges

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.

Landscape Services

Address: Causeway House
Bocking End
Braintree
Essex
CM7 9HB

Telephone: 01376 552525