§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce any legislation in the next parliamentary session which will provide statutory protection for hedgerows in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish,Official Report 16 February, column 370, whether he has seen the research paper entitled, "Hedgerows: Still a cause for concern," published in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation review, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions contained in that paper.
§ Mr. RyderI was pleased to receive the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation review of 1988, and read with interest the article on hedgerows.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds surveys in north Hertfordshire and west Oxfordshire add to the number of recent surveys on hedgerow loss which have produced varying estimates. I am sure the hon. Member is aware that work is being carried out on improving survey methodologies and that my Department is contributing to this work. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds figures on hedgerow loss are of course related only to a small area, unrepresentative of the country as a whole.
Nevertheless we are concerned that hedgerows should be maintained in good order if they are to retain their value 46W as wildlife habitat, as a landscape feature and as a stock-proof barrier. While this must be a matter for the individual farmers concerned, my Department encourages the maintenance of hedgerows in good condition. Through my agricultural development and advisory service advice is offered to farmers on hedgerow trimming and maintenance and on the time of year when cutting and trimming is best carried out for the benefit of wildlife.