Leave your hedge trimmer in the shed…..
A dry day and an unruly hedge can be enough to tempt even reluctant gardeners to get the shears out. However, the RSPB is urging people not to be tempted into cutting their hedges too soon, as they may disturb nesting birds and their young.
Warmer and drier August weather means people are more likely to get out and tackle any overgrown hedges. But, the RSPB recommends avoiding cutting hedges from March to late August in order to allow nesting garden birds to breed safely.
It’s especially important this year as the wet and cold weather in the early part of the year may mean that some species have bred later than normal and are still using their nests and feeding their young. Hedges and bushes that provide berries should not be cut until much later in winter – February is ideal – as the berries are a crucial part of the diet of many species of bird such as song thrush, mistle thrush, redwing and fieldfare.
Richard James, RSPB Wildlife Adviser, says; ‘The humble hedge is a place of safety for many birds, especially in urban areas, as they may be the only suitable nesting places for birds.
‘Although it’s tempting to trim up hedges at this time of year, our advice is not to. It’s against the law to intentionally damage an active nest or prevent parent birds access to their nests, and while most of us would never dream of causing intentional damage to a family of birds, an innocent over-keenness to keep a tidy garden can be harmful too.
‘We’re eager to make people aware of the risks. By early September most young birds will have fledged, so it should be safe to start trimming most hedges, but leave any with berries on until February.
‘It’s been a particularly tough breeding season with unseasonable cold and wet weather, so birds need all the help they can from us. In this case, the best way to help is to do nothing at all, just get into a holiday mood by relaxing and enjoying the wildlife in the garden.’
Get more tailored advice about what to do in the garden and when at RSPB’s Homes for Wildlife www.rspb.org.uk/hfw
Have you still got birds nesting in your garden?
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