CIEEM and RSPB advise against netting on hedges and trees

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CIEEM and the RSPB are aware of the recent rise in the use of netting on trees and hedges to prevent birds from nesting in vegetation needing to be removed from development sites during the breeding season. Whilst not illegal, we have considerable concerns about the use of this practice and we advise against its use.

Netting is an overly simplistic approach that has become more prominent recently. There is an understandable negative reaction from both the public and from professional ecologists to the real and potential harm that it may cause to wildlife.

Forward planning and early engagement of a competent ecologist by developers can often mitigate the circumstances that require netting to be used and avoid unnecessary delays to development projects. In line with planning guidelines, developers should be aiming to retain trees and hedges in the landscape design of their develop projects wherever possible. In the first instance vegetation should be removed outside the nesting bird season and should be checked by a competent ecologist. Where this is not possible, the developer should seek to compensate any removal by planting replacements.

If all other alternatives have been exhausted (i.e. under exceptional circumstances) and netting is to be used, we recommend that:

  • it is used only once planning permission has been granted;
  • it is installed with advice from a competent ecologist, ideally a CIEEM member who is bound by the Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct;
  • netting is used in such a way that it will not catch and hold birds and other wildlife;
  • all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that no wildlife is trapped inside the netting at the time of installation (for example, hibernating hedgehogs in cavities at the base of trees); and
  • netting is checked three times a day to ensure that it has not become defective, loose or damaged and that no wildlife (such as birds, squirrels and butterflies) has become entangled.

CIEEM and the RSPB urge professional ecologists to think very carefully before recommending netting and for developers to consider the potential negative impact on wildlife and local communities in their activities.

 

Media contacts

Gemma Hogg, RSPB Media Relations Manager, gemma.hogg@rspb.org.uk

Jason Reeves, CIEEM Head of Policy & Communications, jasonreeves@cieem.net