British gardeners have been warned not to trim their hedges in July, as doing so could breach the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This legislation makes it an offence to intentionally damage, destroy, or disturb an active bird's nest while it is being built or in use. Horticulture expert Joe Swift advises leaving hedges untouched until August to protect nesting birds.
Expert Advice on Hedge Trimming
Writing in the Radio Times, Swift said: "Hedges are an important resource for birds. It's sometimes hard to spot them, but they might be nesting in them right now, and it's illegal to disturb an active nest. In general, leave it till after 31 August to trim back – and always check for nests first." This advice is echoed by other gardening specialists who emphasize the importance of timing hedge maintenance to avoid harming wildlife.
Alternative Ways to Attract Birds
A TikTok creator known as The Floral Gardener has shared a tip for attracting birds to gardens without relying on food. She explained that water is more effective than seeds or food. "Want birds in your garden? Forget the seed. This works better and it's free," she said. She added: "It's frustrating when you're making so much effort and putting out food for them, and putting bird boxes up and they're still not coming. This is what works. Water. Give birds multiple water sources and they will flock to your gardens."
She noted that in her front garden she feeds birds, but in the back garden she only offers water, and there are many birds daily. Water allows birds to drink, bathe, cool down, and keep clean, which is especially vital during heatwaves. The UK is forecast to experience temperatures near 30°C or higher in the coming week.
Heatwave Forecast
The Met Office has issued warnings about a potential heatwave. Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson said: "The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20s°C across parts of England, perhaps 30°C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20s°C in Wales. Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low."
