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Hedge cutting rules across the UK to change within days
From September 1, UK hedge cutting restrictions ease as the bird nesting season ends. Householders can trim major hedges, but must respect property boundaries and neighbour rules, while farmers and councils have specific permissions.
September 1 marks the end of nesting season restrictions
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1, allowing householders to cut back overgrown bushes at the side of their property, as reported by several regional news outlets including Bristol Post, Cambridgeshire Live, and others. The regulations, designed primarily to protect nesting wild birds and maintain agricultural land standards, restrict hedge cutting between March 1 and August 31.
Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, during this period it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest while it is being built or in use. For garden hedges, cutting during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, the offence carries an unlimited fine or up to six months in prison per instance. Regulations also prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this entire period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially declared over, and hedgerow management rules lift. For householders and landscapers, late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts, heavy reshaping, and reducing the height of hedges, according to the reports.
Exceptions during the restricted window
Even during the March-to-August restricted window, the reports note that some trimming is permitted for safety reasons. Hedges may be trimmed if they overhang public footpaths or roads, block sightlines for motorists, or obstruct streetlights and traffic signs. Work can also be carried out if a structure is dangerous, dying, or poses a hazard to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops, such as winter oilseed rape or grass, can apply for written permission from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to trim in-field hedges starting August 1, provided active nests are checked and left untouched.
Property law and neighbour boundaries
Other rules apply to trees, bushes, and hedges in the UK, beyond the seasonal restrictions. Under property law, you may trim branches extending over your property boundary, but only straight up to the exact property line; you cannot cross the boundary into a neighbour's airspace without permission.
The trimmings legally belong to the owner of the hedge. You must technically offer the cut branches back to your neighbour before disposing of them; dumping them over the fence without asking constitutes fly-tipping.
Resolving disputes over tall hedges
Under the High Hedges Act, part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge consists of two or more trees or shrubs, exceeds two metres in height, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can lodge a formal complaint with the local council. Councils can then issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce its height.
How each outlet told it
Bristol Post
Facts Included:
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Framing: Headline announces upcoming hedge cutting rule changes, emphasizing the date change but not specifying what the change is. — Informative
Facts Included:
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Framing: Headline announces rule change without specifying nature. — Informative
Facts Included:
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety: overhanging paths, roads, sightlines, obstructions, dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops can apply for RPA permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1 if nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property line but not cross into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the owner; must offer them back to neighbour before disposal.
Under High Hedges Act, complaints can be made to council if hedge exceeds 2m, is evergreen/semi-evergreen, and blocks light.
Councils can issue Remedial Notices to force hedge height reduction.
Hedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
From March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
For garden hedges, trimming during the nesting season is not automatically illegal, but if an active nest is destroyed or disturbed, it carries an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
Regulations prohibit cutting or trimming hedgerows on agricultural land during this period.
On September 1, the main bird nesting season is officially over, and hedgerow management rules lift.
Late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts on domestic hedges.
During restricted window, you may trim hedges for safety reasons: overhanging footpaths or roads, blocking sightlines, obstructing streetlights or traffic signs, or if structure is dangerous, dying, or hazardous to property or livestock.
Farmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges from August 1, if active nests are checked and left untouched.
Under property law, you may trim branches over your property boundary but only up to the property line, not crossing into neighbour's airspace.
Trimmings legally belong to the hedge owner; must offer cut branches back to neighbour before disposing of them.
Under the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge has two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can complain to the local council.
Councils can issue legally binding Remedial Notices forcing the hedge owner to reduce height.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimHedge trimming rules in the UK change on September 1.
ClaimFrom March 1 to August 31, it is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly take, damage, or destroy an active wild bird nest while it is being built or in use, under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
ClaimFor garden hedges, while it is not automatically illegal to cut during the nesting season, if you trim a hedge and accidentally destroy or disturb an active nest, you commit an offence carrying an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison per instance.
ClaimFor householders and landscapers, late August through September becomes the safest window for major cuts, heavy reshaping, and reducing the height of hedges.
ClaimDuring the restricted window (March 1 to August 31), you may trim hedges if they overhang public footpaths or roads, block sightlines for motorists, or obstruct streetlights and traffic signs.
ClaimFarmers sowing early crops (like winter oilseed rape or grass) can apply for written RPA (Rural Payments Agency) permission to trim in-field hedges starting August 1, provided active nests are checked and left untouched.
ClaimUnder property law, you may trim branches extending over your property boundary, but only straight up to the exact property line; you cannot cross the boundary into a neighbour's airspace without permission.
ClaimTrimmings legally belong to the owner of the hedge; you must technically offer the cut branches back to your neighbour before disposing of them, though dumping them over the fence without asking constitutes fly-tipping.
ClaimUnder the High Hedges Act (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003), if an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge consists of two or more trees/shrubs, exceeds 2 metres in height, and severely blocks light to a neighbouring domestic property, neighbours can lodge a formal complaint with the local council.