Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species, with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.

You should not cut it back in the nesting season. It's an offence to disturb a nest. So autumn seems about the best.

On Jul 17, 11:47*pm, kay wrote:
BluntChisel;930345 Wrote:





Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres
of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species,
with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol
hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but
would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.

You should not cut it back in the nesting season. It's an offence to
disturb a nest. So autumn seems about the best.

--
kay- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The above is correct if you are using machinary. It is illegal under
the wildlife act.

You will soon get bored. Petrol trimmers are heavy nasty things too.
You always end up breathing the exhaust fumes.
Get someone in with a tractor mounted flail. He will sort it out in
minutes for £15 or £20. There will be someone doing nearby hedges.
You only have to wave the readies under their nose.

If the hedge is very neglected, it may need laying. Tedious but
worthwhile.

In article ,
Ragnar wrote:


Your post suggests that you may have a historic hedge, as it contains 'many
differnt species'. If this is the case then it would be wrong to mistreat
it.
To find out how old the hedge is, select a 30 yard length and count the
species of hedging plants (ignore herbaceous plants and climbers such as dog
rose and honeysuckle). The number of species indicates the age of the hedge
in centuries. If the answer seems unlikely try a different 30 yard length.
If you do indeed have a historic hedge then your local council may know
someone who can give advice on how best to conserve it.

It can be SERIOUSLY misleading. It is a fairly good rule for
farm hedges which were originally planted from a single species,
but often fails horribly for other types.

I counted no fewer than 9 'indicator' species in my neighbour's
hedge, which I happen to know was planted in 1930. The reason is
that the neighbouring gardens (including mine) had seed trees etc.
of many of the relevant species, and the base of the hedge had
often been kept clearish, thus allowing them to germinate.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"BluntChisel" wrote in message
.com...
Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres
of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species, with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol
hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.


Your post suggests that you may have a historic hedge, as it contains 'many
differnt species'. If this is the case then it would be wrong to mistreat
it.
To find out how old the hedge is, select a 30 yard length and count the
species of hedging plants (ignore herbaceous plants and climbers such as dog
rose and honeysuckle). The number of species indicates the age of the hedge
in centuries. If the answer seems unlikely try a different 30 yard length.
If you do indeed have a historic hedge then your local council may know
someone who can give advice on how best to conserve it.
R.

wrote in message ...
In article ,
Ragnar wrote:


Your post suggests that you may have a historic hedge, as it contains
'many
differnt species'. If this is the case then it would be wrong to mistreat
it.
To find out how old the hedge is, select a 30 yard length and count the
species of hedging plants (ignore herbaceous plants and climbers such as
dog
rose and honeysuckle). The number of species indicates the age of the
hedge
in centuries. If the answer seems unlikely try a different 30 yard
length.
If you do indeed have a historic hedge then your local council may know
someone who can give advice on how best to conserve it.

It can be SERIOUSLY misleading. It is a fairly good rule for
farm hedges which were originally planted from a single species,
but often fails horribly for other types.

I counted no fewer than 9 'indicator' species in my neighbour's
hedge, which I happen to know was planted in 1930. The reason is
that the neighbouring gardens (including mine) had seed trees etc.
of many of the relevant species, and the base of the hedge had
often been kept clearish, thus allowing them to germinate.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Quite right to point out the pitfalls of 'Hoopers Law' Nick. Also, many
plantsmen nowadays offer 'hedgerow mix' containing several species. However
the OP's description sounds suggestive of an older hedge so is worth
investigating.
R.

Don't whatever you do invite a conservationist into your garden, if he sees a rare plant you'll suddenly find a conservation order on your garden and you wont be able to dig it or change it. (bit extreme but it has happened)

If the hedge is reasonably dense low down and not too tall then get somebody to murder it for you in the Autumn/Winter, or, if it's tall and straggly, get someone in to lay it for you and spent some time helping him so as you get to know how to do it.

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:59:36 +0100, "BluntChisel"
wrote:

Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species, with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.


The following NE guidance for hedgerows under agri-environment schemes
may be of help. Please note that the cutting cycles are based on
in-field hedgerows rather than boundaries abutting a highway or path.

Hedgerow management
Hedges should be maintained to a height which is customary to the
local landscape, but no less than 1.5 m. A mixture of heights and
widths will provide the best range of habitat.

Do not cultivate or apply fertilisers, manures or pesticides to land
within 2 m of the centre of the hedgerow.

Hedgebanks should be maintained in a style that is customary to the
area.

Cut each hedge no more than once every two calendar years. Avoid
cutting all hedges in the same year. For public safety, the side of
the hedge and margin next to a road or enclosed public path may be
trimmed more frequently.

Do not cut during the bird-breeding season (1 March to 31 July).

Hedgelaying/coppicing should be completed before 1 March. However, in
exceptional circumstances work may continue up to 1 April, provided
that you conduct a survey to ensure there are no nesting birds
present.


Enhanced hedgerow management
Maintain hedges to a height which is customary to the local landscape,
but no less than 2 m. A mixture of heights and widths will provide the
best range of habitat.

Cut no more than one third of your hedges in each calendar year, and
do not cut them between 28 February and 1 September.

Cut each hedge/hedgebank no more than once every three calendar years.
Where necessary for public safety, the side of the hedge next to a
road or enclosed public path may be trimmed more frequently.

rbel

It's also illegal to disturb a nest, deliberately or recklessly, while it is being built or occupied, even when you are using hand tools.

It's also highly unlikely to happen for two reasons

1) rare plants are just that - rare

2) a rare plant growing in a cultivated garden is likely to have been planted deliberately from somewhere else, and therefore highly probably of different stock to the rare plant growing as a UK native anywhere near the vicinity

It's a bit tricky, really. What farmers generally do often, ie late autumn, results in removing most of the bits that would have flowered next spring, so that they are hardly any berries for the birds anyway. But if you do it earlier, say late summer, you give many species time to recover and rebuild flowering buds for next spring, but you remove the berries that are present that year. Ideally, I suppose, you try and manage it so that you don't have to prune every year, or at least not heavily, and accept some loss of something the years that you do.

"Janet" wrote in message
...
In article aa8915ac-2129-406d-97da-
, says...

On Jul 17, 11:47 pm, kay wrote:
BluntChisel;930345 Wrote:





Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred
metres
of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species,
with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol
hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but
would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.

You should not cut it back in the nesting season. It's an offence to
disturb a nest. So autumn seems about the best.

--
kay- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The above is correct if you are using machinary.

It's correct even if you're not using machinery.

It is illegal under
the wildlife act.

You will soon get bored. Petrol trimmers are heavy nasty things too.
You always end up breathing the exhaust fumes.
Get someone in with a tractor mounted flail. He will sort it out in
minutes for £15 or £20. There will be someone doing nearby hedges.
You only have to wave the readies under their nose.

I agree, and often by far the safest way where a hedge adjoins a road.

If the hedge is very neglected, it may need laying. Tedious but
worthwhile.

However, depending on access and amenity you may be able to interest a
local conservation/volunteer body in using your hedge for a hedge-laying
training excercise.

Janet
.................................................. ...............................................


This was laid in March/April. I took the photos in April


http://www.myalbum.com/Album-AZFHDKN...-of-Other.html

Mike

--

....................................

Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive.

....................................

On Jul 18, 11:37*am, rbel wrote:
On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:59:36 +0100, "BluntChisel"
wrote:

Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species, with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.

The following NE guidance for hedgerows under agri-environment schemes
may be of help. *Please note that the cutting cycles are based on
in-field hedgerows rather than boundaries abutting a highway or path.

Hedgerow management
Hedges should be maintained to a height which is customary to the
local landscape, but no less than 1.5 m. A mixture of heights and
widths will provide the best range of habitat.

Do not cultivate or apply fertilisers, manures or pesticides to land
within 2 m of the centre of the hedgerow.

Hedgebanks should be maintained in a style that is customary to the
area.

Cut each hedge no more than once every two calendar years. Avoid
cutting all hedges in the same year. *For public safety, the side of
the hedge and margin next to a road or enclosed public path may be
trimmed more frequently.

Do not cut during the bird-breeding season (1 March to 31 July).

Hedgelaying/coppicing should be completed before 1 March. However, in
exceptional circumstances work may continue up to 1 April, provided
that you conduct a survey to ensure there are no nesting birds
present.

Enhanced hedgerow management
Maintain hedges to a height which is customary to the local landscape,
but no less than 2 m. A mixture of heights and widths will provide the
best range of habitat.

Cut no more than one third of your hedges in each calendar year, and
do not cut them between 28 February and 1 September.

Cut each hedge/hedgebank no more than once every three calendar years.
Where necessary for public safety, the side of the hedge next to a
road or enclosed public path may be trimmed more frequently.

rbel

I'd add to that - leave as late as posssible into the winter, subject
to the above to give the resident wildlife a fair go at the seeds and
berries over the winter.
Don't employ a demolition specialist with a flail if you can avoid it.
If you can find somebody with an old sickle bar cutter that's better.
Your hand held trimmer might struggle with 2/3 years of growth unless
it's a real professional machine.
Make some little signs that say 'It's supposed to look like this' ;~)

Rod

On Jul 18, 6:34*pm, Rod wrote:
On Jul 18, 11:37*am, rbel wrote:





On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:59:36 +0100, "BluntChisel"
wrote:

Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species, with
some of them being ferociously spiky. I've got a sturdy petrol hedgetrimmer
with a longish reach, and I don't mind the exercise at all.

What's the best time for trimming it? It seems a pity to trim it now,
because it's full of berries, insects and birds.
The local farmers seem to trim their hedges in the early autumn, but would
that deprive the birds of berries for the winter?

Any tips gratefully received.

The following NE guidance for hedgerows under agri-environment schemes
may be of help. *Please note that the cutting cycles are based on
in-field hedgerows rather than boundaries abutting a highway or path.

Hedgerow management
Hedges should be maintained to a height which is customary to the
local landscape, but no less than 1.5 m. A mixture of heights and
widths will provide the best range of habitat.

Do not cultivate or apply fertilisers, manures or pesticides to land
within 2 m of the centre of the hedgerow.

Hedgebanks should be maintained in a style that is customary to the
area.

Cut each hedge no more than once every two calendar years. Avoid
cutting all hedges in the same year. *For public safety, the side of
the hedge and margin next to a road or enclosed public path may be
trimmed more frequently.

Do not cut during the bird-breeding season (1 March to 31 July).

Hedgelaying/coppicing should be completed before 1 March. However, in
exceptional circumstances work may continue up to 1 April, provided
that you conduct a survey to ensure there are no nesting birds
present.

Enhanced hedgerow management
Maintain hedges to a height which is customary to the local landscape,
but no less than 2 m. A mixture of heights and widths will provide the
best range of habitat.

Cut no more than one third of your hedges in each calendar year, and
do not cut them between 28 February and 1 September.

Cut each hedge/hedgebank no more than once every three calendar years.
Where necessary for public safety, the side of the hedge next to a
road or enclosed public path may be trimmed more frequently.

rbel

I'd add to that - leave as late as posssible into the winter, subject
to the above to give the resident wildlife a fair go at the seeds and
berries over the winter.
Don't employ a demolition specialist with a flail if you can avoid it.
If you can find somebody with an old sickle bar cutter that's better.
Your hand held trimmer might struggle with 2/3 years of growth unless
it's a real professional machine.
Make some little signs that say 'It's supposed to look like this' ;~)

Rod- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

ou could cut it at this time of year, but if you do so just cut one
side this year then cut the other next year, that way you keep more
cover and food for the birds etc.
I'll be cutting mine in the next few weeks as soon as I can get the
last 1500 dahlias (Pot grown) into the ground.
Putting the branches through the chipper/shredder when they have
leaves helps the debris to rot down quicker.
David Hill

On 18/07/2011 09:05, Ragnar wrote:
wrote in message
.com...
Hello -

I've inherited responsibility for maintaining a couple of hundred metres
of
unkempt hedgerow in Devon. The hedge contains many different species, with
some of them being ferociously spiky.

(Hacked about a bit)

Your post suggests that you may have a historic hedge, as it contains 'many
differnt species'. If this is the case then it would be wrong to mistreat
it.
To find out how old the hedge is, select a 30 yard length and count the
species of hedging plants (ignore herbaceous plants and climbers such as dog
rose and honeysuckle). The number of species indicates the age of the hedge
in centuries. If the answer seems unlikely try a different 30 yard length.
If you do indeed have a historic hedge then your local council may know
someone who can give advice on how best to conserve it.
R.



I have always wondered about this statistical gem. Presumably, if one
has 3 species of hedge plant it means the hedge is 300 years old?

I have a lengthy pyracantha hedge (roughly 30yds, maybe a tad more)
which we planted shortly after moving here about 30 years ago. The
hedge now contains: Pyracantha, holly, oak, ash and privet; where the
extra 4 species were bird-sown. There is the occasional sycamore which
I weed out. I have 5 hedge plants well-established in my hedge, but it
is not 500 years old! If it is, I must be over 500 years old to have
planted it ... (checks mirror) ... I don't think so;~).

To borrow your expression, the answer does seem very unlikely. A
similar length of Pyracantha hedge has Pyracantha, ash and some sycamore
(where I can't reach to weed it out). We also planted this hedge, so it
is not 300 years old.

It seems to me there must be another way of measuring/qualifying an
ancient hedge. My hedge only indicates that we planted a single-species
hedge so much loved by birds that they dropped seed within it from a
previous meal. This pleases me no end :~)), but I'm still at a loss to
understand how the ancient hedge measuring statistic works. Have I
misconstrued something? (confesses to being officially blonde).


--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay