Hedge Trimming in Cornwall

[basil99]

I am wondering how much it costs other people to get their hedges trimmed. I am talking about field hedges being cut back with tractor and flail hedge trimmer. We have it done on an annual basis but my husband says the contractor is over charging us in his opinion. He charges £30 an hour and we live in the Bodmin area of cornwall. Would appreciate your comments.

 

[Cahill]

£30 an hours sounds reasonable to me.
i pay this for hedge cutting and post banging and topping.

also take in to account how far the farmer has to travel to you.

 

[popsdosh]

£30 an hours sounds reasonable to me.
i pay this for hedge cutting and post banging and topping.

also take in to account how far the farmer has to travel to you.

£35/hr is minimum around here for hedgecutting and we spend about £5k a year on it so getting a good rate we know we cannot buy kit and do it cheaper. Just to enlighten your OH it costs us £25hr just to run a tractor on average without actually making anything out of it. Whatever you do make your mind up soon as they should stop on the 1st march.

 

[Velcrobum]

£35/hr is minimum around here for hedgecutting and we spend about £5k a year on it so getting a good rate we know we cannot buy kit and do it cheaper. Just to enlighten your OH it costs us £25hr just to run a tractor on average without actually making anything out of it. Whatever you do make your mind up soon as they should stop on the 1st march.

There are loopholes in the March 1st date something to do with receiving farm subsidies I think (don't quote me as I am not sure). My hedges are cut in early March after the contractor has finished the farms.

 

[popsdosh]

There are loopholes in the March 1st date something to do with receiving farm subsidies I think (don't quote me as I am not sure). My hedges are cut in early March after the contractor has finished the farms.

That maybe what he is telling you . Any hedge cutting is covered by the same cut off dates irrespective of whether you claim payments and can lead to large fines. Just be warey as some will tell you anything to extend their season a little. Unless you have a derogation you may not cut hedges between 1st march and 1st sept.

 

[PeterNatt]

Sounds very cheap to me if he does a good job!

 

[Velcrobum]

That maybe what he is telling you . Any hedge cutting is covered by the same cut off dates irrespective of whether you claim payments and can lead to large fines. Just be warey as some will tell you anything to extend their season a little. Unless you have a derogation you may not cut hedges between 1st march and 1st sept.

Have now discovered we are exempt as the hedges are forming the boundary of our house curtilage. They are cut within the first few days of March as I am very pro wildlife and do not want nests disturbed. The hedge is quite exposed Saxon mix planted by myself and does not start to bud until mid march. There are loads of bird boxes around for earlier nesters if they choose but these hedges tend not to be used until much later in the year. The garden also has a lot of bird friendly vegetation (and they get fed!!)