Gardeners risk £5,000 fine for cutting trees in | European Markets

Because the cold and darkish days of February drag on, many gardeners up and down the nation are busy preparing for the hotter springtime again and are busy pruning, turning, planting and making ready for the explosion of life that’s simply across the nook.

February, being hotter than January and nearer to spring, however not fairly a month of bloom and growth both, is a great month to put the groundwork (typically actually) for the spring and summer season to come back and plenty of of us will likely be busy getting every thing prepared.

Particularly, February is when gardeners are typically inspired to cut back hedges, trees and bushes.

This serves two functions: to cut away lifeless components of the plant, which can help it redirect its power to healthy new growth in spring, and to tidy up the looks of wild and unruly components of the garden earlier than they turn into overgrown.

February can also be a good time as a result of most birds will nest in March, April and Could, so you’ll be able to trees and hedges prepared with out disturbing this important wildlife (which in itself can carry a £1,000 wonderful for those who disturb nesting birds).

However you’ll be able to nonetheless fall foul of the law in February – particularly in case you have nesting or roosting bats in your garden.

Some bats make a nest in trees, and disturbing even a single bat can carry you a wonderful of £5,000.

As Neil McKenzie from Halton Stairlifts says: “Many fanatics don’t realise that their garden actions might disturb protected wildlife, some of which reside in much less apparent locations. This could result in fines of up to £5,000 per incident or particular person animal affected.”

As Bats.org explains: “In Britain, all bat species and their roosts are legally protected, by both domestic and European legislation. This means that under Regulation 43 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) you may be committing a criminal offence if you Damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of a bat (bats do not have to be in occupation at the time).”

Typically, gardeners will usher in a skilled to prime trees, or carry out tree surgical procedure, and these professionals additionally face potential prosecution, too.

In April 2024, a builder in Caerphilly was fined £111 for destroying three bat roosts in a roof of a home during renovation. In 2020, a housebuilding firm was fined £600,000 for demolishing a website with a bat roost inside.

And within the UK, most bats really roost in trees, so you actually need to take care to keep away from a wonderful for those who’re getting tree work completed.

Bats.org provides: “Most bats in the UK evolved to roost in trees. Around three quarters of British bat species are known to roost in trees. The remaining species tend to favour human-made structures because of a lack of suitable and available tree habitat.

“Trees provide shelter and attract a diverse range of insect species for bats to feed on. Since bats are not able to bore holes or make nests, they use whatever gaps are available – including cavities and crevices made by other animals, the natural decay of the wood or arboricultural methods.

“Trees such as oak, beech and ash are particularly suitable for bats, but any woodland or tree has potential for a bat roost – especially if it has cavities in the trunk or branches, woodpecker holes, loose bark, cracks, splits and thick ivy.”