When spring arrives, it is often easier to go to the garden to do work. Planting seedlings, mowing and trimming hedges… We generally want to prepare our land to enjoy the summer. However, that is not the best thing to do. It is even widely recommended not to touch your hedge from mid-March until the middle of August. During this period, birds nest a lot and are generally found in hedges and shrubs.
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The alert from the French Biodiversity Office
According to the recommendations of the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), it is recommended to refrain from trimming hedges and cutting trees between the March 16 and August 15, 2023. In his press releasethe OFB declared that “32% of breeding bird species are threatened with extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).“Citizens are therefore urged not to disturb or dislodge birds during this period.
Another precaution to take is to avoid running the mower under your hedge, because it is possible that hedgehogs have made their nest there. It is even recommended to leave dead wood standing and on the ground, as this can provide additional habitat for various animal species.
What do I risk if I trim the hedge?
Some departments have moved up a gear and recommendations have turned into bans. This is particularly the case in the Vosges department. According to a prefectural decree of May 25, 2023, “throughout the Vosges department, it is prohibited for anyone to carry out work (destruction, maintenance, pruning, etc.) on hedges during a period from March 16 to August 15“. All violations of this decree will be punishable by a fine of up to €750.
HAS national scale“Hedge trimming is prohibited from March 16 to August 15 for farmers“, indicates the Oise prefecture on his site. Violators risk a fine of up to €150,000 and a sentence of up to 3 years.
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How to maintain your hedges without endangering animals?
When you want to maintain your hedges, it is essential to do so in a way that preserves animal biodiversity. Before starting the work, inspect hedges carefully to identify possible bird nests, small mammals or other animals. Avoid disturbing or destroying these nests by adapting your work accordingly. Instead of trimming the entire hedge uniformly and drastically, opt for a selective pruning. You can remove dead branches, damaged or diseased parts while retaining sections that harbor animals and insects. If your hedges require more pruning, consider dividing the work over several seasons. This will allow animals to find shelter in areas not yet cut and adapt to gradual changes in their habitat.
During maintenance work, consider creating alternative habitats for animals. For example, you can install bird or bat boxes in nearby trees to compensate for the loss of nesting sites. If possible, use hand tools rather than noisy motorized tools that could frighten animals. Manual pruning also allows for better precision and greater attention to the preservation of natural habitats.