Hedgerow in Church Stretton saved

Shropshire Council planners have prohibited the removal of the hedgerow from land south of Top Farm at Leebotwood, near Church Stretton – and say that decision is not likely to change in the future.

An application to remove the 95 metres of hedgerow was made by landowner Edwards Corbett of Stretton Energy, asking for permission to get rid of the natural boundary so that farm machinery would be "able to travel complete lengths of the fields".

But in an officer's decision note, Ian Kilby, development manager for Shropshire Council, said: "The council has taken into account the reasons you have put forward but is not satisfied that there are circumstances that justify the removal of the hedgerow.

"Accordingly the removal of the hedgerow, consisting of or including work specified in the removal notice, is prohibited."

He said a fresh removal notice application to get rid of the hedge may be submitted at any time, "but the outcome is likely to be the same unless there has been some change in circumstances since the local planning authority last considered the matter," he said.

He added that there was no time limit on the ban to remove the hedge, which would stand until an order to keep it was withdrawn or quashed as the result of an appeal.

There are strict regulations governing the protection and management of hedgerows, which the government recognise as some of the most important wildlife habitats in the country.

Current regulations were drawn up in response to the high rates of hedgerow removal that occurred in the 1980s, as it was found that between 1984 and 1993 185,000km of hedgerow in England and Wales was lost.

Land owners could be fined up to £5,000 if they break the rules for removing certain hedgerows under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.