We'd rather answer the real question than write generic hedge-care copy. Here's what comes up most, straight from the enquiries.
Q. My leylandii backs onto Rochester Riverside and it's twelve feet tall. Can you actually get it back down safely?
A. Yes, but not in one cut. Leylandii doesn't regrow from brown wood, so we stage it over two winters so the sides fill back in before we drop the final height. One-visit "hard cuts" on a hedge that size usually leave a permanent brown skeleton.
Q. I'm on Boley Hill. Do I need permission from Medway Council before you touch anything?
A. Usually, yes, if it's a tree rather than routine hedge species, and any stem is over 75mm at chest height. We check that on every quote in the Conservation Area and file the six-week notice ourselves, no extra charge.
Q. When can I cut my hedge in Rochester?
A. The hedge itself can be cut at any time, but it is an offence under section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage an active bird's nest, and the nesting season runs roughly 1 March to 31 August. Light top-and-sides trims are usually fine in that window after a nest check. Heavy work such as reductions is best done from January to late February, or from late August through September.
Q. How much does hedge trimming cost in Rochester?
A. For a well-maintained front privet or beech hedge on a Medway terrace, expect roughly £65 to £110 including waste removal. A longer back-garden run of around 15 metres of mixed hedge is more like £130 to £200, depending on height and condition. These are 2026 ballpark figures; for a firm fixed price we need to see the hedge first.
Q. My neighbour's hedge is blocking my light. What can I do?
A. There is no blanket height limit, but under Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 you can complain to Medway Council about a hedge of two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees over 2 metres tall that is unreasonably blocking your light. You are expected to try to resolve it with your neighbour first. Separately, you can cut back branches that overhang your side, back to the boundary line.
