June warning that gardeners who cut hedges could 'face jail and unlimited fine'
If gardeners are cutting hedges and a bird's nest is damaged or destroyed - intentionally or otherwise - then they're breaking the law and could face a fine or jail time
Green-fingered Brits are being warned against falling foul of the law this June as they spruce up their gardens, with warnings that illegal hedge trimming could land them in hot water – including potential jail time and an 'unlimited fine'. With the sun making a welcome return recently, albeit punctuated by showers, gardening enthusiasts have been eagerly tending to their outdoor spaces, keen to ensure their greenery is looking shipshape.
However, those reaching for the shears to neaten up their hedges might not just be impacting the plant's health during its blooming period but could also inadvertently breach environmental regulations.
Strict rules prohibit the cutting of farm hedgerows from April 1 to August 31, barring exceptional circumstances which would necessitate a licence.
While domestic garden hedges can be legally trimmed during this period, any harm caused to bird nests, whether deliberate or accidental, constitutes a legal infringement.
With many birds still in the midst of nesting and rearing chicks in June, specialists at Husqvana highlight the legal implications: "Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use.
"That includes consciously using a hedge trimmer when there is a bird's nest in your hedge, and in the process of doing so, causing the nest to be damaged or destroyed."
This stance is backed up by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, reports the Express. According to the RSPB, anyone who intentionally damages a bird's nest while it is in use or under construction is in breach of the law, and this includes trimming hedges.
The charity states: "The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it." Violating this law may lead to an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.
The RSPB adds: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking."
Wildlife specialists Arbtech provide insight into how the legislation is enforced in practice.
They state: "Pieces of environmental legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended are regulated by a combination of the police, Natural England/Natural Resources Wales/Scottish Natural Heritage (based on location), the Environment Agency, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the local authorities, the Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), various public bodies, and relevant organisations based on the endangered species in question.
"Once an action breaking the rules of the Act has been carried out, the offence will inevitably result in a police investigation.
"The police will enforce part 1 of the Act, as it focuses on the fundamental wildlife protection over wildlife species and what exactly necessitates a breach of the rules.
"In fact, dedicated departments of the police specialise in breaches of environmental and wildlife laws, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs).
"Any law relating to the environment and wildlife are taken just as seriously as any other piece of active legislation.
"Even in respect of a breach of the Act involving a single animal or habitat, the person responsible would be liable to pay a potentially unlimited fine, spend up to six months in prison, or possibly even both."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Why playing EuroMillions now gives you the best chance of winning £14m jackpot
GAME ON Why playing EuroMillions now gives you the best chance of winning £14m jackpot Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PLAYING the EuroMillions tonight gives you the best chance of bagging the £14million jackpot. A Lucky Irish ticket holder won the biggest ever prize of £208million this week and the jackpot has now reset. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 People can enter EuroMillions today with a £14million prize up for grabs Credit: Getty But it means those playing tonight have the best chance of winning the entire jackpot. This is because less people are likely to play because it's not a mega jackpot and that means any winnings could be split between a smaller group. A spokesperson for Allwyn, which runs the National Lottery, explained: "EuroMillions is designed to be a huge, rolling jackpot game. "So, we always have more people enter as the jackpot rises and excitement grows. "We also see more syndicates and groups playing the game as the jackpot climbs. "However, every draw, the odds of winning the jackpot remain the same no matter what the jackpot amount. "You could possibly argue that, if fewer people play, then you are potentially less likely to share the jackpot with other winners." The spokesperson added that, ultimately, any lottery is a game of chance and anything can happen, especially depending on what numbers are drawn and based on number combinations. Of course, always remember to only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and set a spending limit before you play. Visit or if you need help. If you do win the EuroMillions tonight, any prize must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date. Biggest ever EuroMillions jackpot A record £208million EuroMillions prize was scooped earlier this week, leaving the winner with an eye-watering pot of cash. The National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers were: 13, 22, 23, 44, 49 and the Lucky Stars are: 03, 05. While one lucky person in Ireland won the jackpot, dozens of Brits also scooped prizes. There were three players who matched five numbers and one lucky star who will win a whopping £6.3m each. While 16 Brits won £16,119.10 by matching the five main numbers.
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Fine warning for taking seashells and pebbles from beaches
However, beachgoers are being warned they could be breaking the law without even realising it, and fines may be on the way. Under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, the removal of any natural material such as shells, sand and pebbles from public beaches in the UK is illegal. Previously, a tourist who had holidayed near Crackington Haven beach, Cornwall was forced to drive hundreds of miles back to the popular holiday spot in order to return some pebbles he had taken from the beach. Removing pebbles and other natural matter from the coast is in fact damaging to the environment. (Image: Getty/Spooh) Additionally, in 2018, the Metro reported on a group of thieves who were described by the paper as 'grain gangs'. They would use JCB diggers to take large quantities of sand from Hemsby beach in Norfolk, in order to sell it on to builders. Meanwhile over in Devon, council gardeners were forced to microchip public plants after suffering a 'severe' amount of thefts in the area. Andrew Ward, ecological consultant at ecology and biodiversity consultancy firm Arbtech, told the BBC: 'What may seem like a harmless holiday keepsake is, in fact, part of a delicate and vital ecosystem—and could even cost you a fine of up to £1,000. 'One person taking a pebble may not seem like much, but when thousands of people do the same thing every summer, the consequences add up. 'The law isn't there to spoil anyone's fun—it's a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our environment. 'By leaving the beach just as we found it, we help ensure it remains a thriving habitat for generations to come.' Bans on seemingly harmless acts can be enforced by local councils, and can see offenders fined up to £1,000 as a penalty. Yet while it may seem perfectly harmless, removing pebbles and other natural matter from the coast is in fact damaging to the environment. As suggested by the name of the Act, and as stated in the introduction of the Act, taking natural material from a beach in the UK is illegal, in order to protect Britain's beaches 'against erosion and encroachment by the sea'. Pebbles and other natural matter act as a natural sea defence against coastal erosion, which many experts warn has become even more of an issue due to climate change.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Fine warning for taking seashells and pebbles from beaches
However, beachgoers are being warned they could be breaking the law without even realising it, and fines may be on the way. Under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, the removal of any natural material such as shells, sand and pebbles from public beaches in the UK is illegal. Previously, a tourist who had holidayed near Crackington Haven beach, Cornwall was forced to drive hundreds of miles back to the popular holiday spot in order to return some pebbles he had taken from the beach. Removing pebbles and other natural matter from the coast is in fact damaging to the environment. (Image: Getty/Spooh) Additionally, in 2018, the Metro reported on a group of thieves who were described by the paper as 'grain gangs'. They would use JCB diggers to take large quantities of sand from Hemsby beach in Norfolk, in order to sell it on to builders. Meanwhile over in Devon, council gardeners were forced to microchip public plants after suffering a 'severe' amount of thefts in the area. Andrew Ward, ecological consultant at ecology and biodiversity consultancy firm Arbtech, told the BBC: 'What may seem like a harmless holiday keepsake is, in fact, part of a delicate and vital ecosystem—and could even cost you a fine of up to £1,000. 'One person taking a pebble may not seem like much, but when thousands of people do the same thing every summer, the consequences add up. 'The law isn't there to spoil anyone's fun—it's a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our environment. 'By leaving the beach just as we found it, we help ensure it remains a thriving habitat for generations to come.' Bans on seemingly harmless acts can be enforced by local councils, and can see offenders fined up to £1,000 as a penalty. Yet while it may seem perfectly harmless, removing pebbles and other natural matter from the coast is in fact damaging to the environment. As suggested by the name of the Act, and as stated in the introduction of the Act, taking natural material from a beach in the UK is illegal, in order to protect Britain's beaches 'against erosion and encroachment by the sea'. Pebbles and other natural matter act as a natural sea defence against coastal erosion, which many experts warn has become even more of an issue due to climate change.
