Manage hedgerows

Where it applies

Boundary

A boundary action — it's paid on the parcel's boundary features, not its area.

Eligibility conditions

• Hedgerow must be over 20m long and less than 10m wide
• Gaps must each be no more than 20m and total no more than 10% of the hedgerow's length (or be planted up during the 3 years)
• Enter only the side(s) you have management control of; both sides required for a coppicing or laying rotation

What you'll do

Cut hedgerows on a rotation, not every year — pick one approach per hedge: cut incrementally (trim a little higher and wider each time so it keeps growing), or a 2-year rotation cutting half each year, or a 3-year rotation cutting a third, or coppice/lay them. Don't cut in the bird nesting season. Road and boundary hedges qualify if you have a legal duty to maintain both sides — if they must be trimmed often, use the incremental approach.

Evidence to keep

• Dated photos of each managed hedge
• A record of when and how each hedge was cut
• Contractor invoices, if cutting was done for you

When

• Mar–Aug: Don't cut — bird nesting season (1 Mar–31 Aug)
• Sep–Feb: Cut on rotation (incremental, or every 2–3 years) — outside the nesting season

Combining with other actions

Can share its area with every other action except:

• SFI 2026: BND1
• SFI 2024: BND1, CHRW2
• SFI 2023: HRW2
• CS Higher Tier: CHRW4
• Countryside Stewardship: BE3