Just as the hedgerows are becoming resplendent with Autumn fruit -  Blackberries ripening, Sloes filling out, Hawthorn berries turning scarlet and the Rose hips swelling, the Highway Agency operatives arrive with their mechanical flayers and decimate mile upon mile of luxuriant hedge.

Wintering birds and the resident populations are having their winter food supply destroyed absolutely needlessly. The time for hedging and ditching is late in January and during February, when the berries have been harvested, but before the sap begins rising. No earthly reason exists to justify flaying hedges in late Summer or early Autumn.

We should all lobby DEFRA, Natural England, County Councils and the RSPB and establish Directives that will ensure hedgerow management is established for the benefit of Wildlife and not a neat and tidy looking countryside.