Question 1

When can you legally cut a hedge in the UK?

Accepted Answer

It is an offence under section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage an active wild bird's nest. The main nesting season runs 1 March to 31 August. Cutting outside that window, September to late February, is the legal default; cutting inside it is allowed only if a competent visual nest check confirms no active nests. We schedule around the window as standard.

Question 2

How much does hedge cutting cost in Dover?

Accepted Answer

Most routine hedge cuts in Dover fall between £120 and £400 depending on length, height, species and access. Heavier reductions on overgrown leylandii or long garden hedges range from £300 to £900, sometimes more for staged work. We quote a fixed price after seeing photos and the postcode.

Question 3

Do I need permission to cut a hedge in a Dover conservation area?

Accepted Answer

Routine cutting of hedging species (privet, laurel, leylandii, beech, hornbeam, yew) is exempt. But if a tree standing in or grown out of the hedge has a stem over 75 mm diameter at 1.5 m height, section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires six weeks' written notice to Dover District Council before any pruning. DDC has designated 57 conservation areas across the district, including Dover Town Centre, Waterloo Crescent, St Margaret's Bay and Kingsdown. We file the notice on your behalf, included in every quote.

Question 4

How much can I reduce a leylandii by?

Accepted Answer

Leylandii, thuja and other cypress species do not regenerate from brown wood. Once you cut past the green needle-bearing zone, that face stays brown for good. Hard reductions are possible but should usually be staged over two years: first cut to an intermediate height, let new growth fill the sides, then drop to final height the following winter.

Question 5

Can I cut my neighbour's overhanging hedge?

Accepted Answer

You have the legal right to cut branches and roots that cross your boundary, back to the boundary line. But the cut material legally belongs to your neighbour, so offering it back is best practice. You cannot cut beyond the boundary line, and you cannot cause unnecessary damage to the parent plant. Conservation area, TPO and high-hedges rules apply on top.

Hedge Care and Tree Work in Dover and the White Cliffs villages.

Got a section 154 notice from Kent County Council about a hedge or tree over the road or pavement? What to do

Hedge care and tree work. No upselling.

Routine hedge cutting

Height & width reduction

Tree services

Three things you can hold us to.

A proper job, or you don't pay.

5% off for pensioners.

10% off bigger return jobs.

Dover hedges aren't generic hedges.

We handle the paperwork.

Where we've been this month.

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