The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is appealing to farmers to refrain from cutting trees and hedges until the end of August and to be extra careful as many wild birds are still in the middle of their nesting season. image expired

The council said that, due to the exceptional spring, many wild birds were onto their second or third clutch of chicks. Any tree, hedge or bush cutting now could injure or scare the nesting birds and cause them to abandon their chicks.

This year there have been a record number of calls to the CCW and police seconded to the council from members of the public who are worried about hedge cutting they have seen and who have often asked whether they are right to intervene.

The CCW advises adopting a "common sense approach" where work is vital; it asks people to remain vigilant, checking hedges or trees for any nests. If a nest is discovered, it is best to attempt to restore any covering and leave it alone until young birds have flown the nest.

Furthermore, the CCW reminds farmers who receive subsidy under the Single Farm Payment scheme that they risk being penalised by Rural Inspectorate Wales for hedge cutting between March 1 and August 31.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1982) states that it is an offence to deliberately destroy birds, their eggs or a nest still in use. If prosecuted under this act, a person could face a fine of up to £5,000 per bird or nest and six months imprisonment.