As ecologists, one of the questions we're asked most often over the spring and summer is: "Can I cut my hedge now, or do I need to wait until autumn?" Many people believe there's a blanket ban on hedge cutting between March and August, but that's not actually the case. What the law protects are active bird nests, rather than specific dates in the calendar. That said, the majority of birds do nest during these months, so it's important to think carefully before carrying out an