You may think that maintaining your hedges is important only from the aesthetic point of view. Bur have you ever thought it may be a legal requirement as well?
Yes, it is. In this blog, we will tell you all about the legislations in place, around hedge cutting and maintenance. After going through it, you will be having a clear idea of your rights and responsibilities related to hedge cutting glanmire.
Let’s proceed then!
Legislations give you responsibility
If you own a hedge inside your property, the legislations give you a certain degree of responsibility to maintain it. You should ensure that the hedge is kept tidy, at an appropriate height and maintained by the right person. Also, any trimming activity should be carried out at the right time so that the local wildlife is not affected.
You may have observed that hedge maintenance is a pretty common cause of neighbourly disagreement. This is why legislations provide clarification on the responsibilities of hedge owners on domestic properties.
When it comes to boundary hedges, both neighbours should share responsibility. However, the ownership rests on which side of the boundary lines the hedge is growing. You are allowed to trim down any roots or branches that are encroaching the boundary line into your property, either manually or with equipment. But, if you go over the boundary line, your neighbour may legally take you to court for damaging his property. Do keep this in mind when you carry out any hedge cutting or gardener cork removal activity next time.
If you own a hedge, you must ensure that it does not inflict any damage to the property of your own and that of your neighbour. In case you are planning to undertake a major hedge cutting glanmire work, you should give prior notice to the neighbour on the other side of the boundary.
Timing of hedge cutting is equally important
Various Wildlife and Countryside Regulations consider it an offence to destroy or damage a wild bird’s nest intentionally, while it is in use or being built. Therefore, while using a hedge trimmer, be careful not to cause any damage to a bird’s nest in your hedge. This is the reason why bird conservation organizations prescribe against the use of hedge trimmers during the primary breeding season for nesting birds- which is during March and August in Ireland.
Legislation for high hedges
A couple of years back, a specific high hedge legislation was inducted to address neighbourly disputes arising from overly tall hedges. Any hedge over 2m or 6¾ft (approx.) is defined as a ‘high hedge’ in this legislation. This law also considers maintaining a high hedge that affects the enjoyment of a garden or home as a kind of anti-social behaviour. This is because such hedges may potentially obscure a view, obstruct light or may overbear. This legislation empowers an aggrieved neighbour to take appropriate steps to resolve the situation, without involving lawyers. In case any further action is required, the local council may also be involved.
Hopefully, the above overview on hedge cutting legislations would help you approach your upcoming hedge cutting project with confidence. It would help you prevent or resolve any possible disputes with your neighbours, arising out of the maintenance of hedges on your property. We want to conclude by stating that hedge cutting work is not a ‘piece of cake’ at all! It needs years of expertise & in-depth knowledge and this is why we would recommend you to hire a professional arborist Glanmire to accomplish your planned hedge cutting task. He would strictly comply with all safety standards, guidelines & legislations- while you can just sit back and relax! With years of experience, he would be well-versed with all the wildlife and other regulations in place in your area. Thus, you can make sure to stay on the right side of the law, all the time!