CHRW2

Manage hedgerows based on their establishment status. Fully established hedgerows must be cut incrementally, on a 2 or 3-year rotation, or managed by coppicing/laying. Newly planted or not fully established hedgerows must be lightly trimmed incrementally until established.

Cutting and trimming must be done during autumn and winter. For fully established hedgerows, incremental cutting is annual, 3-year rotation cutting is in autumn/winter, and 2-year rotation cutting is in late winter (Jan-Feb). Newly planted hedgerows must be trimmed annually in autumn/winter.

You must follow the action's requirements to achieve its aim. Reading the additional advice is optional but helpful.

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
• photographs or other documentation

If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.

Check for regulatory restrictions before starting, such as the legal ban on cutting from 1 March to 31 August, protection for nesting birds, and tree felling licenses. Cutting incrementally can improve wildlife benefits. Coppicing or laying can restore hedgerows by stimulating new growth.