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<p>There has been no formal assessment made of the effectiveness of hedgerow protections.
The majority of hedgerows on agricultural land were previously managed in accordance
with rules contained in cross compliance that were conditioned to payments made through
the Basic Payment Scheme and some agri-environment schemes. As we moved away from
the Basic Payment Scheme at the end of last year, cross compliance and the hedgerow
management rules also ended. The Government consulted last year on the best approach
following the end of cross compliance and on the 16 April laid new regulations that,
if approved, will put management practices for hedgerows on agricultural land into
law.</p><p> </p><p>Certain hedgerows are also protected from removal under the Hedgerows
Regulations 1997 if they meet specific criteria. These regulations are enforced by
Local Planning Authorities, who can utilise their understanding of the local context
and landscape character.</p>
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