reducing hawthorn hedge by a foot best way

I think it worth reading the relevant section of the W&C Act 1981. There is no definition on the Statue books regarding a 'Qualified Person'. Techincally hedges can be cut if checked and documented being clear of live nests or fledglings prior to works:

SUMMARY
 Bird Nesting season is from 1st March until 31st July © Natural England

 Vegetation or site clearance should be done outside of the nesting season (1st March – 31st July inclusive), although the nesting period may start before this and extend beyond it, in many cases (e.g. barn owls can breed at any month of the year in the UK). This is to avoid impact to nesting birds and infringement of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

 If clearance work has to be undertaken during the nesting season, a breeding bird survey needs to be carried out by a suitably qualified person. As a general rule, it should be assumed that birds will be nesting in trees, scrub, reeds or substantial ditch side vegetation during the core breeding period, unless a survey had shown this not to be the case. In addition, some species are ground nesting, such as the skylark and lapwing, both of which can occur on grassland areas and cleared sites where there is a time lapse between demolition and development.

 Any active nests identified should be protected until the young have fledged.Where a Schedule 1(3) species is involved, mitigation for impacts, e.g. loss of nesting site, should be devised and implemented.

 Particular attention should be paid to any site clearance/development work affecting buildings, as this is where swifts, swallows, house martins and barn owls preferentially choose to nest.

Replies

PRO

James Brett May 19, 2015 at 8:07am

Borrow his tractor and flail? Or do they want a tidy cut? If so perhaps polesaw would do it.

How deep is said hedge?
PRO

Richard Gadsby May 19, 2015 at 12:22pm

What's the access like?
If it's good and solid ground a chainsaw and platform. If not a pole saw and platform. Try and have someone with you to help you keep it level as it's easy to loose perspective when up on platforms/ ladders.
David Brain @ CGS May 19, 2015 at 1:49pm

In my experience there are only three practical options here, and the guys have covered them all.

1) Flail.

2) Chainsaw from a secure platform if the hedge is not dangerously wide.

3) Pole saw from a secure platform.

The impractical choice would be a heavy duty pair of loppers, some hand cream to avoid blisters & a massage booked for post job time (please see options 1-3)

The obvious no - no is NOT to have a little 40ft nest inspection walk before you take it on.
Paul McNulty May 19, 2015 at 9:36pm

Just a thought. Do they want to reduce it by a foot and let it grow back to rejuvenate it, or end up with the finished height a foot lower?

I'd want to reduce it by significantly more, perhaps 12" or 18" below the expected final height, then let the new growth come up to the required height over time whilst undercutting it to thicken it up. Nothing worse than a load of stumps that you have to shave the new growth down to every cut.
David Benson May 19, 2015 at 10:41pm

have you got permission from the farmer to cut his hedge as it might be included in a stewardship scheme also the wildlife and countryside act regarding hedges and birds is in force at this time of year for the type of cut you want to do
PRO

Gary RK May 20, 2015 at 1:06am

I think it worth reading the relevant section of the W&C Act 1981. There is no definition on the Statue books regarding a 'Qualified Person'. Techincally hedges can be cut if checked and documented being clear of live nests or fledglings prior to works:

SUMMARY
 Bird Nesting season is from 1st March until 31st July © Natural England

 Vegetation or site clearance should be done outside of the nesting season (1st March – 31st July inclusive), although the nesting period may start before this and extend beyond it, in many cases (e.g. barn owls can breed at any month of the year in the UK). This is to avoid impact to nesting birds and infringement of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

 If clearance work has to be undertaken during the nesting season, a breeding bird survey needs to be carried out by a suitably qualified person. As a general rule, it should be assumed that birds will be nesting in trees, scrub, reeds or substantial ditch side vegetation during the core breeding period, unless a survey had shown this not to be the case. In addition, some species are ground nesting, such as the skylark and lapwing, both of which can occur on grassland areas and cleared sites where there is a time lapse between demolition and development.

 Any active nests identified should be protected until the young have fledged.Where a Schedule 1(3) species is involved, mitigation for impacts, e.g. loss of nesting site, should be devised and implemented.

 Particular attention should be paid to any site clearance/development work affecting buildings, as this is where swifts, swallows, house martins and barn owls preferentially choose to nest.