Under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, any hedgerows classified as ‘Important’ cannot be removed without a Hedgerow Removal Notice issued by the relevant Local Authority, unless that removal is subject to an appropriate consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

An ‘important’ hedgerow is one that has existed for 30 years or more, and satisfies at least one of the archaeological and ecological criteria listed in Schedule 1 of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997.

Hedgerow surveys can be conducted at any time of year. However, the optimal time to survey is during spring and summer, when ground flora are present.