Can I Cut My Hedge During Bird Nesting Season?

Can Hedges Be Trimmed During Bird Nesting Season?

Many people believe that no hedge can be cut during bird nesting season, but it isn't that simple.

For privately owned garden hedges, light maintenance trimming can often be carried out safely provided the hedge has been carefully inspected first and there are no active nests where work will take place.

In many established hedges, nesting birds build their nests deep inside the centre of the hedge. A light trim to the outer growth may not disturb them, whereas a heavy reduction, lowering the height or cutting deeply into the hedge is much more likely to affect nesting birds if an active nest is present.

This is why every hedge should be assessed individually rather than assuming all hedge work must stop completely.

Our Approach

At Dragonfly Tree & Garden Services, we inspect every hedge before starting work.

If a hedge only requires a light maintenance trim and no active nests are found where the work will take place, the work can often proceed safely.

However, if we discover an active nest or the work involves reducing the height or cutting heavily into the hedge where birds are nesting, we will recommend postponing that section until the young birds have safely fledged.

Protecting wildlife is just as important to us as delivering a professional hedge cutting service.