Time to cut back - landowners reminded to trim trees and hedges
Essex Highways is reminding landowners across the county of their responsibility to maintain trees, hedges, ditches and other vegetation bordering roads, pavements and public rights of way following the end of bird nesting season.
Overgrown vegetation can quickly become a hazard, particularly as wetter weather approaches in the autumn and winter months.
Landowners have a duty of care to ensure vegetation from their property does not create a hazard for highway users.
Now that bird nesting season has ended, Essex Highways will continue to work with landowners to address outstanding issues and, where necessary, consider further enforcement action.
Landowners can now safely undertake maintenance work on vegetation. This can include:
- cutting back overhanging branches that obstruct visibility at junctions and bends.
- removing vegetation that restricts footways, cycleways and public rights of way.
- trimming vegetation that obscures traffic signs, streetlights or road markings.
- maintaining ditches and drainage channels to help prevent flooding.
- trimming or removing trees and branches that could fall onto the highway.
Most trees and hedges alongside Essex roads are located on privately owned land. Those responsible can include homeowners, farmers, parish councils, district and borough councils, housing associations and businesses.
Between January and August 2026, Essex Highways resolved 1,825 vegetation related issues. Essex Highways also issued 779 enforcement letters requesting landowners to undertake maintenance on vegetation affecting the highway.
While Essex Highways carries out maintenance on vegetation under its responsibility, the support of private landowners remains essential in helping to keep routes across Essex safe, accessible and resilient throughout the year.
Councillor Mark Webster, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “With bird nesting season now over, we are reminding landowners of the important role they play in helping to keep Essex’s roads, pavements and public rights of way safe and accessible.
“Regular maintenance of trees, hedges, ditches and over vegetation can help improve visibility, reduce obstructions and support effective drainage, particularly as we approach the autumn and winter months.
“We encourage anyone whose land borders the highway to check their vegetation and carry out any necessary maintenance to help keep the network safe for all users.”
For more information about landowner responsibilities and vegetation maintenance, visit the Essex Highways website.