Gorse hedges

[Kenn]

Not sure whether this is the right section for this question but it does n't seem to fall into an exact category.

I was of the understanding that gorse hedges are regarded as field boundaries and as such landowners are encouraged to protect them.
Whilst I appreciate that they recover quickly from a good cut back, I have been surprised by the amount that I have seen grubbed up and totally destroyed over the last year or so.

Any one know what the legal position is?

[r.rackstraw]

Landowners are not encouraged to protect gorse hedges. On the contrary, areas occupied by gorse are now ineligible for farm support payments and farmers face heavy penalties if they inadvertently include such areas in their claims. But best not to burn it or grub it out when the birdies are nesting.
Gorse continues to spread and there is probably more now than ever - it is supposed to have been absent from Caithness before introduction for fencing in the early 19th century.

[sids]

"Whin dick" has a better ring to it.