This entire line of trees in the back of my mother-in-laws garden is being cut as I type, all of them. I am absolutely broken up by this and furious at her for doing this.. it's just for cosmetic reasons, she "doesn't like those type of trees".Now this same line of trees houses absolutely tonnes of pheasants, tree sparrows and thrushes.. the last two which are in trouble. It is also nesting season as you know, I can guess she hasn't bothered checking for any birds in there and that even if she had, she would still chop them down as she has done in the past; she once chopped down a fully grown tree in her old garden which had woodpigeons nesting in it, the chicks fell to the ground and one of her many pet cats ate them right there and then. Did she care? No.
By the way, she insists that she cares for wildlife and actually pays for RSPB membership, yet she lets her pet cat run wild and kill everything around and this is now the second lot of trees being chopped in this very garden.
Am I over reacting here or is this far too many trees to be cutting at this time of year and in a critical place for wildlife?
I love Columbidae.
Honestly I have no idea even now if there were any nests in there.. and if there were she wouldn't tell me.
It was 16ft of hedges and they're not done yet... this is all I have as I am not actually there, it's what she took:
Wow that view changed quickly
Amazed how fast they can build houses these days
Your original post lost all credibility with me once we entered the pigeon eating cat bit
If your that concerned shop the MIL to the local wildlife protection officer of the police force
PS - im slightly educated so not a complete numpty
Feelings running high in this thread, please keep it civil everyone.
Some general advice here, legally a garden hedge could be removed at any time of year as long as no active nests would be destroyed in the process. If you are aware of hedges, trees or shrubs that are going to be cut in the near future it is worth observing them closely, any signs of nest activity would need to be pointed out to the contractors as soon as possible to prevent them from destroying the nest. Reputable firms will assess the situation and plan the work at a later date once the nest has run its course.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to intentionally harm, take or kill any wild bird or to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird whilst in use or being built. If you are able to point out active nests but the workers insist on carrying on the next step is to involve the police, report it stating the above act and ask for an officer to attend asap.
From a best practice point of view we recommend avoiding vegetation work between March and August to avoid conflict with nesting birds. A conifer hedge could provide nesting sites for wrens, robins, blackbirds, dunnocks, collared doves and mistle thrush to name just a few so the contractor responsible for this work would need to have conducted a thorough check.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.