How often should hedges be cut to maximise their value for game?

Regular trimming keeps hedges thick and warm, maximising their shelter value for game and much other wildlife. However many hedgerow shrubs only fruit on second year and older wood. As a result the best compromise for game and wildlife is probably to cut your hedges once every two or three years.

A good scheme for the farm as a whole is to cut one half or one third of your hedges each year, ensuring that these are scattered across the farm rather than all in one area. In this way you will ensure that there are hedges at the right stage to suit the full range of wildlife needs scattered across the whole area.