The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 are designed to give protection to
important hedgerows in England and Wales.
Any owner or tenant (or in certain cases a
relevant utility operator) 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.
For the purposes of the regulations, remove is
defined as uprooting or otherwise destroying a hedgerow.
The Regulations apply to any hedgerow which:
- grows in, or adjacent to any common land, Local
Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, or land used
for agriculture, forestry of the breeding or keeping of horses,
ponies of donkeys and
- has a continuous length of at least 20 metres,
or if less than 20 metres, meets another hedgerow at each end
In calculating the total length of a hedgerow,
any gap resulting from a contravention of these regulations and any
gap not exceeding 20 metres should be treated as part of the
hedgerow. A hedgerow, which meets another hedgerow, is to be
treated as ending at the point of intersection or junction.
The regulations do not apply to any hedgerow
within the curtilage of, or marking a boundary of the curtilage of
a dwelling house.
Applying for a hedgerow removal notice
If you want to remove a hedgerow you must apply to the Council. To
do this you need to complete a
Hedgerow Removal Notice application form.
Contact us
Further advice and information relating to the
removal of hedgerows, is available by contacting David Thornber,
Arboricultural Officer
Tel: 01695 585114
Email: dave.thornber@westlancs.gov.uk
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