Hedge cutting, planting & reduction in Cambridge
From a once-a-year laurel trim to a complete leylandii reduction, we cut, shape and plant hedges across Cambridge and the surrounding villages. Done properly, cleaned up properly, and timed around the birds.
The full scope.
Every job sits inside one of these. We'll tell you which on the quote, with the time we expect to spend, the kit we'll need, and where any tippings or supplies are coming from.
Annual hedge cutting
Single or twice-yearly trim to keep shape and density. Most Cambridge hedges need only one careful late-summer cut.
from £95Hard reduction
Reducing overgrown hedges back to a manageable size — laurel, leylandii, conifer. We work in stages where the species needs it.
from £220New hedge planting
Bare-root and pot-grown hedge planting October–March. We source from East Anglian growers wherever possible.
from £380Hedge removal & stump-out
Full removal of dead or unwanted hedges, including roots, with the waste taken away.
from £320Topiary & shaping
Pyramids, cones, balls, cloud-pruning. Hand-shears for yew and box; machines where they're kinder to the plant.
from £180Bird-safe nesting checks
If you need a cut between March and August we'll check thoroughly for active nests before any blade touches the hedge.
from £65
The right time to cut a hedge in Cambridge
Most Cambridge hedges only need a single careful cut a year. The exception is fast-growers like leylandii and privet, which can warrant a tidy in spring and a proper shape-up in late August. We work to the RSPB-aligned bird nesting season— between 1 March and 31 August we always check the hedge for active nests before any tool is used. It's an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to disturb a nesting bird; we won't risk it on your garden.
Common Cambridge hedge species
- Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) — workhorse evergreen; loves Cambridgeshire's heavier clay soils. Cut late summer with secateurs where we can, machines where the area demands it.
- Beech (Fagus sylvatica) — holds copper-brown leaves through winter. Late August trim, never spring.
- Yew (Taxus baccata) — the classic English topiary hedge. Slow but bombproof. We hand-shear yew on a tight scheme — no machines for high-quality finish.
- Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) — quick and willing. Two cuts a year keeps the shape.
- Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) — looks like beech, copes better with heavy ground. Increasingly our recommendation for new Cambridge hedges.
- Box (Buxus sempervirens) — beautiful for low parterres, but watch for box blight. We assess every job for disease pressure first.
- Leylandii (Cupressus × leylandii) — fast and divisive. Won't regrow from old wood — so reduction has to be planned carefully.
Cambridge conservation areas and listed properties
Much of central Cambridge, Newnham, and several villages including Grantchester and Trumpington fall within conservation areas. For hedge work on listed buildings or boundaries forming part of the historic streetscape, we'll check the relevant Article 4 directions and council permissions before quoting. Get in touchif you're not sure whether your boundary is protected — we'll work it out at no charge.
The standard,
without the markup.
Sharp blades, clean cuts
Cordless tools serviced before every season — no torn growth or browning. Quieter for your neighbours too.
All the cuttings, gone
Sheet down, sheet up, waste in the truck. We leave gardens cleaner than we found them.
Right time of year
We schedule species by species — yew in late summer, beech in August, laurel autumn. Right time, less stress on the plant.
Recorded properly
Photos before and after on every contracted hedge, so condition is tracked year to year.
Honest starting points.
Real quotes need a real look. These are honest starting points for a typical Cambridge garden — we'll confirm in writing after a site visit, free.
Up to 15m of hedge under 2m tall. One careful cut, all clippings removed, edges left tidy.
Up to 35m of hedge or two boundaries under 2.5m. Tower scaffold for any taller sections.
Reduction or restoration of overgrown hedges, two-stage work for stressed species, full waste removal.
Four steps. No surprises.
- 01
Site visit
We come and look. Measure, photograph, ask what you'd like the hedge to do — privacy, screen, formal line, wildlife.
- 02
Written quote
Within 24 hours. Itemised: cut, waste, access kit, day rate. No vague ranges.
- 03
Schedule
Slotted into the right season for the species. We'll text the day before.
- 04
Done
Cut, clean-up, photos. Invoice with payment options. We stay on the contract list if you want us back next year.
Honest answers, no hedging.
Only after a thorough nesting check. If we find active nests we'll wait — usually a four- to six-week pause, depending on the species. We'll let you know before the visit.
For a healthy laurel under 2.5m tall, expect roughly £150–£250 for a single visit including waste removal. Taller hedges, side-of-road locations needing cones, or hedges that haven't been cut in 3+ years cost more — we'll quote precisely after a look.
Always. The price includes waste removal and tipping at a licensed green waste site. We don't leave bags by the kerb.
Yes — bare-root October to March (cheapest, best establishment) and pot-grown year-round. We design the mix to your site (sun, soil, exposure) and source from East Anglian nurseries where possible.
Up to a point. Leylandii won't break from old brown wood, so we can only reduce by the length of living green growth. We'll measure and tell you honestly what's possible before quoting.
Hedge TPOs are rare but they exist. We check the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council registers before any work in conservation areas. If there's a TPO we lodge the Section 211 notice ourselves.
Ready when you are.
Free quote within 4 working hours. Same-day visits for urgent jobs in Cambridge.