Uncertainty over farm hedges after grants halted

A hedgelayer has said he has been left in limbo after government grants to maintain hedges were put on hold.

DEFRA initially said in September it had suspended funding for farmers to maintain hedgerows as a result of "unprecedented demand", but then closed the scheme in November for the grant process to be "simplified and rationalised".

There has been no indication when or if the grants will restart and the NFU has said farmers and growers keen to adopt measures to improve the environment have been left without funding to complete the work.

Defra has said it has committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years and will contact farmers and land managers whose applications are on hold "shortly".

Steve Budding, 70, from Leicestershire is about to become chair of the National Hedgelaying Society which has around 700 members.

He said 90% of hedgelaying work is paid for by the grants and fears any work which is not funded will not go ahead this year.

"Since I was 20 I've hedgelayed every winter, miles and miles of it really," Mr Budding said.

"I'm very passionate about it.

"At the moment everything just seems frozen. It's very worrying. And we can't do any work after the end of February because it's nesting season.

"Farmers have depended on these grants because farming hasn't been the most profitable job lately."

He added hedges not only provide a haven for wildlife, but also play a role in carbon capture and to reducing flood risk.

John Stanley, 71, owns Spring Barrow Lodge Farm near Whitwick, and has employed Mr Budding for decades.

"If the capital grants do not come back in we will not be doing any more hedgelaying," Mr Stanley said.

"If we're not careful the whole tradition could die out."

"It would be an absolute disaster for the countryside."

The NFU said: "The messaging of this is confusing – farmers and growers are being asked to adopt measures to improve the environment but have been left in the lurch without access to the key grant schemes which will enable them to do this.

"We are holding urgent meetings with the government to try and get some much-needed clarity for members."

A Defra spokesperson told the BBC the government's commitment to farmers "remains steadfast".

The spokesperson added: "It's why we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – the largest budget for sustainable food production and nature's recovery in our country's history.

"As a result of unprecedented demand, some of the capital grant offer for farmers has temporarily closed to new applications.

"Agreements that have already been signed will be met, and we will contact farmers and land managers whose applications are on hold shortly."

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