It's good news for gardeners this weekend as the ban on hedge cutting and trimming that spans the length of the summer is finally coming to an end.

Through the summer months, gardeners have been told not to cut hedges because of the risk of breaking a little known environmental law governing wildlife.

But that law only extends until the end of August.

There's a little known law governing hedges and hedgerows in the UK which applies from March until August.

Though many probably inadvertently may break the law as they whip out the hedge trimmers and the secateurs over a sunny weekend in peak summer, it's still the case that gardeners could get in trouble if they aren't careful thanks to a little known environmental regulation.

Farm hedgerows cannot legally be cut between April 1 and August 31 at all because of laws to protect nesting birds.

While it's technically legal to trim some types of domestic garden hedges at this time of year, if it causes a bird's nest to be damaged or destroyed then you're still breaking the law.

Wood Street Care Leicester says: "It's illegal to cut your hedges during bird nesting season, which runs from March to August."

"Cutting your hedge during bird nesting season can damage or destroy nests, which is harmful to the birds. It's also illegal to trim hedges on your property if they're taller than 20 metres without permission from the local council."

Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is being built or in use.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds backs this up too.

It says that a person is breaking that law if they intentionally damage a bird's nest while it's being used or built, and this applies to trimming hedges.

"The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it".

Amazingly, breaking this law could land you an unlimited fine and six months in prison, even for a single bird's nest egg being broken.

The RSPB adds: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking."

The good news is that September is just around the corner, so gardeners will be free to attack their key garden maintenance like stripping back overgrown hedges from Sunday without risking the ire of the law or damage to bird populations either.

In fact, September is a good time to trim back any overgrown areas and cut your lawn, giving it time to slowly grow back over the winter and avoiding having to cut or trim when wet in the autumn or winter months.