Every year, as March approaches, we receive a surge in calls from contractors, landowners, and site agents realising—often too late—that they’re about to breach hedgecutting restrictions once again.
Despite being well established in law, the 1st March to 31st August hedgecutting ban continues to disrupt works across North Wales—causing delays, complaints, and compliance issues.
What the Law Says
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it’s in use or being built.
In practice, this means:
- No hedgecutting or dense scrub clearance during nesting season
- Unless a qualified ecologist confirms no active nests are present on the day of works
This applies equally to rural, roadside, and peri-urban sites—whether part of a stewardship scheme, a development site, or a utility corridor.
Who Gets Caught Out
The restriction affects more than just farming:
- Utility contractors managing site access or cable routes
- Developers conducting pre-clearance vegetation work
- Farmers or estate teams completing agri-environment tasks
- Highways teams trying to stay ahead of spring growth
Where nesting risk is overlooked or left too late, it often results in part-finished works, planning complaints, or forced rescheduling.
What to Do Now
- Bring forward any vegetation works to complete before end of February
- If March works are unavoidable, book a same-day nesting bird check
- Include ecological timing in RAMS and toolbox talks for contractors
- Be prepared to stop works if active nests are found mid-clearance
Clearance does not become exempt simply because it’s part-way done. The law applies across the entire nesting season.
Eco-Scope Rapid Response
We help landowners, developers, and infrastructure teams across North Wales keep their programmes compliant and on track. Our services include:
- Same-week nesting bird checks before or during clearance
- Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) supervision for ongoing vegetation work
- Compliance documentation suitable for planners, auditors, or funders
This isn’t just about protecting birds—it’s about managing risk and delivering projects without avoidable disruption.
Read GOV.UK guidance on wild bird protection during works
Contact Eco-Scope to book a pre-clearance check or discuss ecological support for March works.