birds!

We would not normally have cut the hedge down, unfortunately the archway had completely collapsed and was blocking the pathway, and in order to clear it we had to get the plant off the archway. The birds have gone from the nest, I presume they have been taken by the magpies of other predators.

Farmers have been heftily fined for disrupting birds nesting in hedges.

Well I wouldn't accept that as an excuse at any time during the breeding season if I was in charge so there!!

seems you get away with it if you didn't know the nest was there

Well, that's what I had to tell the council.

Certainly there is for farmers whitewave

jing I thought that there was some sort of law about cutting hedges during the nesting season?

Don't worry too much, baby birds are remarkably resilient-we had a nest blown out of a bush last year and I was very upset but we put it under a nearby very prickly bush and they survived so all may not be lost. The nest had pretty well disintegrated too.

Oh that is so sad and I completely understand how you feel PRINTMISS. It reminded me of one Easter many years ago when my mother cut her hedge back quite drastically. She came across a nest, just the same as you did - didn't notice it until she had completely exposed it, no hedging above it at all. There were three little greenfinch chicks inside and then we realised what all the noise was from a nearby greengage tree - it was mum greenfinch shouting her head off at my mother!
After a bit of thought (it looked as if it was about to pour with rain, very glowering, heavy skies), we went into the garage and got some stout canes and tarpaulin and made a tent over the hedge, with plenty of room for mum and dad to get in and out, but protecting the babies from the weather. Over the next week or so, we were so pleased to see both parents still going in and out of the nest and were thrilled to witness the chicks leaving the nest!
So take heart, your little birds could still be fine.

This time last year we had a letter from the council telling us cut our front hedge back. I told them exactly what they could do. we cut it back in September.

Poor birds.

oh i feel for you printmiss i would be the same ,but try not to worry as long as the nest is not visable and above ground the parent will hear them if they are ok

Oh, PRINTMISS it's not silly to be upset! What a shame, let's hope the parent bird/s hear the chicks calling them and find the nest.