Clinton Rogers column: Wildlife and hedge-cutting rules

In a democracy that is not only healthy, it is vital.

And an article I recently wrote about wildlife protection, gently questioning whether 'rules' were being overzealously applied, has certainly provoked a rather angry response.

I said then, and I say again, I am an animal lover.

However, this week I have been moved into direct action!

I have no intention of breaking the law, although I am sure my actions will be vigorously challenged in certain quarters.

To be clear, it is NOT illegal to cut an overgrown roadside hedge in the summer.

What is illegal, under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, is to intentionally damage or destroy active nests, eggs, or chicks.

So, my argument is that quietly going out with silent secateurs to gently trim protruding brambles dangerously is not going to harm wildlife.

However, leaving said brambles in place almost certainly does put humans at risk.

I won’t apologise for making this point again – in the Somerset village where I live, it is becoming almost impossible to walk the footpaths because farmers’ hedgerows are blocking your way.

Don’t even attempt it with a grandchild in a pushchair, unless you want to step into a dangerously busy road (no thank you).

Farmers say they are "actively discouraged" from cutting between March and August for fear of prosecution.

Now, I’m asking for some common sense here.

In my opinion, when it comes to an argument over the safety of a child in a pushchair versus the inconvenience to birds, there can be only one winner.

And it has to be possible to trim the hedges to make them safe for pedestrians without destroying nesting birds.

My critics clearly see it differently.

Here are a couple of their views, emailed to us: Overhanging hedges are more of an urban problem.

Hedge cutting and verge cutting are, however, zealously followed in keeping our roads safe.

The protection of human life in this respect is the norm.

I don’t live in an urban area.

Around me, hedges aren’t being cut at all, never mind overzealously.

If that is a protection of human life, I must be missing something! Birds only nest in hedges for a short period each year.

Surely we can accommodate that or would you prefer to have birds’ nests destroyed?

Of course, I don’t want to see nests destroyed.

But here’s a thing – hedges grow wild in the summer (not the winter), and when they are plainly presenting a danger to pedestrians, that has to be seen as a priority.

Anyway, the secateurs are back in the shed, there are fewer overhanging branches to navigate, and to the best of my knowledge, no birds were harmed in the process.