What discussions has the Minister had with Openreach, the National Grid, and other infrastructure providers that have overhead lines near to hedgerows, specifically to discuss the impact of the Sustainable Farming Scheme proposal requiring farmers to have trees every 50 metres of hedgerows?
The Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation outlines proposals for defining a hedge in good condition, emphasising the inclusion of standard trees evenly spaced along hedgerows. The suggested standard is a minimum of one tree per 50 metres on average, acknowledging the positive impact of trees for farmers and the environment. The proposals allow flexibility in tree placement, ensuring they do not need to be planted in unsuitable locations, such as where they may interfere with power lines. Detailed guidelines on this will be specified in the final scheme documentation.