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The protection of hedgerows requires you to leave a green cover within 2 metres of the centre of a hedge. According to the RPA infringements of this regulation are one of the most common reasons for failing an inspection. Apparently RPA inspectors are now equipped with GPS equipment to be able to accurately measure the percentage of field margins that don't comply and adjust your single farm payment accordingly.

The RPA report that their inspections found cultivation such as ploughing and drilling had taken place within the protection zone with on many occassions a crop having been planted and ongoing management taking place. Applications of pesticides were also found in the protection zones. Further more although protection zones were often in existence they were not to the required width. Although the majority of infringements resulted in a warning letter 45% resulted in a reduction in payments.

You must
1. take all reasonable steps to maintain a green cover on land within 2 metres of the centre of a
hedgerow, watercourse or field ditch;
2. take all reasonable steps to maintain a green cover on land between the edge of the watercourse
or field ditch and 1 metre on the landward side of the top of the bank.

The rules of this standard (GAEC 14) do not apply in any of the following circumstances:

• to land either side of a hedgerow which was planted on or after 1 January 2005 and which is
less than 5 years old (you will need to keep documentary evidence to prove this);
• to land forming part of a parcel of 2 hectares or less;
• to hedgerows within the curtilage of a dwelling-house;
• to the side of any hedgerow facing a dwelling-house when the hedgerow marks the boundary
of the curtilage of the dwelling-house;
• to casting up a traditional hedgebank between 1 August and the last day of February.

Public rights of way may form part of the 1 metre or 2 metre ‘protection zone’ margins along hedges and watercourses. When they do, the rules of this GAEC standard (GAEC 14) will apply as far as practical but should not restrict public access.