The background to the procedures is set out in section 97 of the environment act 1995. Application for hedgerow removal notice the environment act. Aim to protect important hedgerows in the countryside by controlling their removal through a system of notification. The proposed removal of the hedgerow is acceptable provided that the loss of the hedgerow. All other gaps including gateways are part of the same hedgerow. Any bank, ditch, wall or tree within 2m of the centre of the hedge is considered to be part of the hedgerow habitat, as is the herbaceous vegetation within 2m of the centre of the hedgerow 1. The town and country planning environmental impact assessmentengland and wales regulations 1999 requires that certain types of project are subject to an assessment of their environmental impact before planning permission can be granted. A hedgerow is defined as any boundary line of trees or shrubs over 20m long and. Sep 11, 2014 a hedgerow is important, and is protected, if its at least 30 years old and meets at least one of these criteria. Document history amended by guidance on the application of the hedgerows regulations 1997. Extract from the hedgerow regulations 1997 gcer, july 2015 1 gloucestershire key wildlife sites handbook part 3. Any gap over 20m long marks the end of one hedgerow and the start of another. Hedgerow survey handbook a standard procedure for local surveys in the uk prepared on behalf of the steering group for the uk biodiversity action plan for hedgerows 2nd edition defra deals with the essentials of life food, air, land, water and people. The hedgerows regulations 1997 protect most hedgerows from being removed including being uprooted or otherwise destroyed and apply to any hedgerow which is.
Appendices appendices appendix 2 extract from the hedgerows regulations 1997 the following extracts relate to the minimum thresholds for selection of hedgerow kws in part 2, section h3. The hedgerows regulations 1997 publication of planning applications on council websites please note that with the exception of applicant contact details and certificates of ownership, the information provided on this. Hedgerows regulations 1997 the hedgerows regulations 1997 protect important hedgerows by controlling their removal through a notification system. This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Aside from the planning system, hedgerows are offered some protection under the hedgerow regulations 1997 2. Provision of bird nesting opportunities will be made through planting hedgerows and by. Protecting trees, woodlands and hedgerows a practical. Hedgerows regulations 1997 provide important protection by prohibiting. A hedgerow is important, and is protected, if its at least 30 years old and meets at least one of these criteria. Hedgerow removal notices are only normally valid for two years after their issue.
Hedgerows 3, 4, 5 and 6 are classified as not important under the hedgerow regulations 1997 hmso 1997. Removal of hedgerow in contravention of the regulations can lead to fines of up to 5000 in a magistrates court or unlimited amounts in higher courts. More detailed guidance is contained in the hedgerows regulations 1997. The hedgerows regulations 1997 were made under section 97 of. New rules on hedgerows came into force on 1 june 1997. If you remove, a hedgerow without permission whether it is important or not. To get permission to remove a hedgerow, you must write to your local planning authority. The background to the procedures is set out in section 97 of the environment act. The hedgerow regulations 1997 were made under section 97 of the environment act 1995 and took effect on 1 june 1997. Appendices appendices appendix 2 extract from the hedgerows regulations 1997 the following extracts relate to the minimum thresholds. Coverage the system applies to most countryside hedgerows in england and wales. The regulations do not apply to hedges forming the. The hedgerows regulations 1997 schedule 4 what is a hedgerow removal notice.
If the authority decide to prohibit removal of an important hedgerow, it must let you know within 6. The authority will assess the importance of the hedgerow using criteria set out in the regulations. This includes their nests whilst in use or being built as well as any eggs the nest may contain. The hedgerows regulations 1997 of england and wales came into effect on 1 june 1997 and is government legislation which falls under the environment act 1995. Please state the reference number of the plans to be submitted with this application showing the stretches of hedgerows to be removed. It is against the law to remove most countryside hedgerows without permission. The regulations apply to most countryside hedgerows. The hedgerows regulations 1997 of england and wales came into effect on 1 june 1997 and. Can i trim, cut, lay or coppice a hedge at any time of year.
The hedgerow regulation 1997 guidance on the appeal procedure introduction 1. The application for hedgerow removal notice form should be used by anyone proposing to remove a hedgerow, or part of a hedgerow, covered by the hedgerows regulations 1997. More detailed guidance can be found inthe hedgerows regulations 1997. These regulations may be cited as the hedgerows regulations 1997 and shall come into force on 1st june 1997. To facilitate the protection of those hedgerows, the regulations apply to a wider. Kws handbook appendix 2 extract from hedgerow regs 1997 v4.
Hedgerow removal notice please state the reasons for the proposed removal of hedgerow s. Please note that this document refers to england only. I have heard there is a piece of legislation called the hedgerow. They introduced arrangement for local planning authorities lpas to protect important countryside hedgerows through a system of notification. The hedgerow regulations 1997 statutory instrument 1997. The net loss of hedgerow length in wales was 25% between 1984 and 1990. Vale of white horse district council planning services. The hedgerow regulations 1997 classifies and protects certain hedgerows.
The regulations are designed to protect important hedgerows in england and wales. The regulations affect hedgerows which are 20 metres or more in length, or if less than 20m in length meet another hedgerow at each end gaps which are found within a hedgerow of less than 20m in length are to be counted as part of the hedgerow. Please note that these materials, were produced before the. Supporting documents are shown including the hedgerow regulations 1997 a guide to the law and good practice and the hedgerow regulations questions answered. Despite the profile, however, in the uk there has been a decline in the length and structural condition of hedgerows over the ten years since the introduction of the regulations. Since the legislation came into effect it is a criminal offence to remove a hedgerow in contravention to the regulations. The hedgerow regulations tcv conservation handbooks. A line of trees and shrubs up to 5m wide and over 20m in length with no gap greater than 20m. It was created to protect hedgerows, in particular those in the countryside aged 30 years or older. This complex mechanism offers some protection for hedgerows of more than 20 metres in length or which join other hedgerows provided they adjoin agricultural land, forestry, paddocks, common land, village greens, a site of special. For the purposes of hedgerow protection regulations, a hedgerow is defined as any boundary line of trees or shrubs over 20m long and less than 5m wide. There are exemptions, including hedges that form the boundary or curtilage of a. The hedgerow regulations 1997 came into force on the 01 june.
The hedgerow was assessed as important in accordance with the hedgerows regulations 1997 wildlife criteria and a uk bap priority habitathabitat of principal importance. Kws handbook appendix 2 extract from hedgerow regs. The hedgerow regulations 1997 were introduced to protect important countryside hedges from removal. The hedgerow regulations oadby and wigston borough council. The following information is taken from the leaflet the hedgerows regulations 1997. These regulations, enforced under the environment act 1995, restrict the removal of hedgerows, or parts of hedgerows which are over 20m in length. Further information is contained in the hedgerow regulations your questions answered pdf 424kb. To facilitate the protection of those hedgerows, the regulations apply to a wider class of hedgerows, described in regulation 3 in particular to hedgerows which are 20 metres or more long or which meet another hedgerow at each end and which, in each case, are on or adjacent to land used for certain specified purposes. Mar 23, 20 supporting documents are shown including the hedgerow regulations 1997 a guide to the law and good practice and the hedgerow regulations questions answered. Anyone proposing to remove a hedgerow, or part of a hedgerow, which is covered by the regulations, must first notify the local planning authority by submitting a hedgerow removal notice.
Guidance notes for application for hedgerow removal notice. The hedgerow regulations 1997 a guide to the law and good practice part 3 pdf, 454kb, 15 pages this file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Please complete the hedgerow removal form pdf, 252kb and return it to the address at the top of the form. There is a presumption against hedgerow removal in the legislation.
Wildlife, historical and landscape criteria determine whether a hedge is important or not. Survey of hedgerows at barton farm, winchester elizabeth. A tree preservation order, the hedgerow regulations 1997 and dedicated conservation sites can secure longterm protection of trees, woodlands and hedgerows. The hedgerows regulations 1997 protect most hedgerows from. A guide to the law and good practice, also from defra. The hedgerows regulations 1997 publication of applications on planning authority websites please note that the information provided on this application form and in supporting documents may be published on the authoritys website. Please state the reference number of the plans to be submitted with this application showing the stretches of hedgerow s to be removed. To get permission to a hedgevow, you must your if the authority to prohibit removal of an important hedgerow, it must let you know 6 weeks. Pdf do the hedgerow regulations protect british hedgerows. The hedgerow regulations were introduced in 1997 to help protect hedgerows. Application for hedgerow removal notice the environment. As of july 1998 a new consultation document has been released by the detr to tighten the rules on hedgerows still further. Hedgerow removal notice please state the reasons for the proposed removal of hedgerows. The hedgerow regulations 1997 are designed to give protection to important hedgerows in england and wales.
Although written primarily for local planning authorities, it is also a useful point of reference for others interested in, or whose interests are likely to be affected by, the regulations. Protection of countryside boundary features and amendment. In this case, removal includes digging up and replanting elsewhere, as well as removing from the land completely or destroying in the. Notice donations and legacies library of documents revised code of conduct. The hedgerow regulations 1997 does not individually define the term hedgerow, but the crucial feature defined that it is a line of trees and shrubs over 20 meters in length with a width less than 5 meters at the base. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page. Effective, clear guidelines and criteria as to what defines a locally distinctive hedgerow would be necessary to avoid potential local conflict. Hedgerow regulations faqs the following information is taken from the leaflet the hedgerows regulations.
Please state if the hedgerow to be removed is less than 30 years old. New rules on hedgerows came into force on 1st june 1997. The hedgerow regulations your questions answered pdf hedgerow. To facilitate the protection of those hedgerows, the regulations apply to a wider class of hedgerows, described in regulation 3 in particular to hedgerows which are 20 metres or more long or which meet another hedgerow at each end and which, in each case, are on or adjacent to land used for. In particular, they affect hedgerows which are 20 metres or more in length. More detailed guidance can be found in the hedgerows regulations 1997. New rules regarding management of hedgerows came into force in 2015 under cross compliance for further information countryside hedgerows.
These regulations make provision for the protection of important hedgerows in england and wales. The hedgerow regulations 1997 require that before the removal of certain hedgerows, the local planning authority must be notified of that removal by the submission of a hedgerow removal notice. To facilitate the protection of those hedgerows, the regulations apply to a wider class of. The regulations make provision for the protection of important hedgerows in england and wales.
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