‘Bird Nesting Season’ is officially from February until August (Natural England) and it is recommended that vegetation works (tree or hedge cutting) or site clearance should be done outside of the nesting season.
In practice tbough, the nesting period may start before this and extend beyond it; the busiest time for nesting birds is from 1st March until 31st July and of course varies according to species, etc.
As contractors we aim to avoid impact to nesting birds, infringement of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and breaching the European Habitats Directive 1992/Nesting Birds Directive.
When tree or vegetation clearance work has to be undertaken during the nesting season, we will carry out two pre-work survies: Once when we initially come to see the job and the second before we actually start the work on the day it’s planned ot be completed. That way, we can identify (as best as possible from the ground) whether there are nesting birds, and plan the work accordingly.
Of course, it isn’t always possible to see into a dense crown from the ground, and it does occasionally happen that we will come across nesting birds only once the arborist is in the tree. Sometimes, in a large crown, it is possible to begin some aspect of the planned work without disturbing the nest, but this is a careful judgement call made only by experienced arborists.
More usually, and in our experience, almost all clients are sympathetic and patient if we find that the work needs to be put on hold until chicks have fledged.
For advice about work to your trees and hedges, contact Andrew on 01256 817369; 07771 883061 or email him at Andrew@primarytrreesurgeons.co.uk