The Department of Infrastructure is continuing this year with its reduced hedge and verge cutting operations.
 
This is a continuation of a strategy introduced in recent years whereby the Department has reduced the amount of hedge and verge cutting it carried out, such that during the summer months it only proactively cuts hedges and verges which are obscuring visibility at junctions, and where footpaths are being blocked. 
 
Responsibility for the maintenance and cutting of hedges lies with the owners.  For many decades the Department has cut all the hedges around the island for the general benefit of the community.  However, with the reductions in budgets, this is not a function which can be continued. The Department will continue to cut for safety reasons, but would encourage landowners to take a more active approach to the management of their own hedges.
 
The cutting strategy focuses on targeted safety cutting during the spring and summer seasons when growth is at its most prolific.  Verges are only cut where vegetation impedes visibility at junctions and where it causes pedestrians to move off the footway.  Later in the season and over winter there will be cutting back of woody growth, and the year’s growth of grass and brambles will be cut back. This is important habitat management as well as necessary for road safety.  Cutting is kept to a minimum until the beginning of August, to leave a window for breeding and seeding of wildlife.
 
Minister for Infrastructure, David Cretney MHK said:  “The change to the cutting regime has enabled the Department to reduce its hedge and verge maintenance programme and budget over the last few years.”
 
The Isle of Man Government is in the process of seeking to have the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity extended to the Island, which could see greater appreciation of the need to conserve the Island’s biodiversity.”