Under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 local Councils have the power to control the removal of hedgerows. It is against the law to remove most countryside hedgerows without permission.
The prescribed form of Hedgerow Removal Notice is set out in Schedule 4 of the Hedgerow Regulations and required that:
- The notification must be in writing
- The hedgerow(s) in question should be clearly identified on a large scale (preferably 1:2500) plan to enable the Council to easily locate the site and the specific hedgerow(s)
- The applicant must clearly state the reasons for wishing to remove the hedgerow
An application form and guidance notes can be downloaded from the Related Content section. Applications and supporting documents can be submitted by email to customerservices@rochford.gov.uk or by post to: Woodlands Section, Rochford District Council, 3-15 South Street, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1BW.
If you remove a hedgerow without permission you may face an unlimited fine and you may have to replace the hedgerow.
The above information is for guidance only. Full details of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 can be found in the Related Content section.