King’s Cliffe resident objects to a hedgerow cutback, claiming it destroyed a wildlife space and impacted his mental health.
Robin thinks they destroyed a wildlife space. Birds and squirrels often visited his garden. The housing group is Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association (NRHA). They said the hedge damaged nearby properties.
Robin has lived there for 25 years. He says they never managed the hedge before. He struggles with his mental health. His garden provides him peace. He was promised only a trim to the hedge.
NRHA manages the properties on behalf of East Midlands Housing (EMH). EMH owns the land and the hedge. People complained about it last spring. They lived on Oak Way, near the hedge. The hedge was damaging their fences plus sheds.
The work was scheduled carefully last week. They wanted to protect any nesting birds. NRHA said ivy had to be removed. The ivy covered the hedge and would have killed it. Removing the ivy will help the hedge grow back. Cutting it back encourages new growth. This should improve wildlife within a year.
Other residents liked the work done. Private residents thanked the contractors. The area will now receive annual inspections. These inspections will ensure the area stays clear. This will benefit the local surroundings. Robin says they told him it would just be trimmed.
NRHA says they contacted residents regularly. They used phone and email to keep people informed. An email in October said the hedge would be cut back. This amount followed the tree surgeon’s advice. The contractor spoke to residents on the day. This ensured people understood the work happening.