If you were planning on pruning your hedges this weekend, the latest advice from the RSPB is to wait just a few more days until September as many breeds of British birds are still nesting.
Enjoying birds and wildlife is one of the great pleasures of gardening and getting out the chainsaw too early could risk scaring off birds and damaging nests – which is also against the law (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).
Before you undertake any work on hedges and trees, the RSPB advises that you should first look for any tell- tale signs of nesting activity and then carry out a close inspection of the area to be pruned from all angles and If there’s berries still on the hedge, you might consider delaying cutting back even longer.
Jamie Wyver, spokesman for the RSPB, said: “Stand back from the hedge or tree at different times of the day and quietly watch for signs of activity. If a bird is nesting the parents will be flying in and out frequently – either carrying food for the chicks or waste material from the nest in their beaks. If there’s no obvious signs, don’t just assume it is safe to get pruning – it’s essential to carry out a full visual inspection to look for nests before you start work.”
UK designed Henchman platform tripod safety ladders are the safer alternative to step ladders and traditional ladders and are ideal for both inspecting and pruning. Available in heights from 6ft to 16ft, the ladders have one to three adjustable legs for working on uneven or sloping ground. Their built-in safety 7inch wide platform rung allows gardeners to tuck in to the ladder for greater comfort and safety, whilst the top rail provides one-handed support and can be leaned against when working with both hands or stretching to inspect upper branches.
Added Henchman managing director Tom Kitching: “It’s all too easy to plan garden jobs around our own schedules without stopping to think about the wildlife, but it is important to take nesting in to account at this time of year.
“By the end of August most chicks will have flown the nest so we’re advising Henchman customers to get pruning from early September. There’s still plenty of time to tidy up hedges and trees before winter and with a Henchman tripod ladder the unique three-legged design means you can get the job done swiftly and safely without fear of toppling or wobbling.”
Used by the National Trust, English Heritage, several Royal households, landscaping professionals and thousands of discerning gardeners throughout the UK, Henchman tripod safety ladders are made of lightweight aluminium and are easy to carry and store. For more information and to order online visit www.henchman.co.uk
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