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Overgrown Ivy on House

Ritchard FreemanRitchard Freeman Posts: 17
in Problem solving

The green ivy in the side of my newly bought (last year)  house is getting out of control.

Last year I cut back, almost to the wall, what I could reach, and to my surprise it grew back all variegated, lovely I thought.

Now for the rest?

I want to take it off the wall totally (above where I can reach) and let it re-grow. flat & variegated.

This will involve scaffolding etc...

But I think there might be birds nesting in the higher, sticking out 3', green, ivy.

I want the Ivy gone, I'll do it carefully, by hand (not machine) but ...

What if I find a nest? What do I do?

Help

 

 

Posts

  • Joe_the_GardenerJoe_the_Gardener Posts: 876

    Disturbing nesting birds is a criminal offence. Can you wait until August? There's no guarantee that your ivy will remain variegated and I suggest you will spend a lot of time keeping it under control. Perhaps think about something less demanding,

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    As Joe has said - it is against the law to disturb / destroy a birds nest that is active (i.e. being built or in use) with a potential fine of £5,000 or six months in prison.

    Unfortunately the only thing for you to do now is to wait until the nesting season is over and start later in the year.

    http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/wca/

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