Will my beech hedge survive?

Hi

thanks for the update , could you plant a new hedge in the autumn on your land .


I have seen the use of hessian used on slopes to help secure the soil etc .

 

I would say that needs a retaining wall, even if there was no hedge, you cant just cut into land in that way and expect to do nothing.
It will just be your soil eroding down into that area.

 

Apologies @Lynton Naiff - I thought the photo showed footings for a wall, or maybe that's because I assumed they'd be building one!
As the others have said, that soil will just gradually work it's way down towards the road, and a fence won't stop it. Even if you were on clay soil, and it doesn't really look particularly hefty [although that could be the photo ] once you get to winter conditions, that will move.
I wouldn't want you ending up with a scenario like we have up here at the Rest and be Thankful
The Rest and Be Thankful: An infamous road through 'a mountain in torment'

I think @Spruce 's suggestion of hessian or similar, might work, but the problem is that it's not your land, so you'd have to negotiate with the developers responsible. Good luck with that! Planting a hedge of your own might be the best solution, if you have room, and you could put in a very simple fence to the inside of the existing hedge [posts and chicken wire] and then do a hedge in autumn/early winter using bare root hedging, which makes it very inexpensive. I also agree with @pete - that erosion will come from 'your soil' eventually. Not great.

 

I agree it needs a retaining wall. That's far too steep a slope to stay put in heavy rain with just hessian or turf. And it doesn't look very stable to stand on for access to cut that side of the hedge.

I could be wrong but I believe whoever owns the land would be held responsible if it slipped/washed onto the road.

 

{install matting} that what I was referring to with the hessian that the builder has suggested.


Any chance that you could plant your own hedge on your land , the only good thing is that the work he has carried out is on his land so any problems in the future and the road would be his responsibility until the road is adopted by the council ? Or will it stay a private road ?

require a retaining wall

Spruce

 

Thanks for all additional thoughts.

It's the developer's soil which will be eroding down into his own land over his own road. It's also his hedge insofar as it, too, is on (only just on) his land. On a lighter note being well into my dotage I suspect my personal erosion being on a faster track will spare me having to witness the beech's possible demise.
I was in a blind panic when the digging began so I appreciate members' insights on its viability which gave me some grounding at the time, and now relieved at least to see the hedge standing for a little while longer yet.

 

Well - I hope you last a bit longer than the possible erosion @Lynton Naiff !
It's always difficult to advise on this sort of thing because we're only seeing part of the whole picture [literally] and there are lots of possibilities with the eventual outcome - especially what the weather does, how the soil manages, and any additions to that part of the site. Your descriptions and info have been really good though.
Up here, a lot of areas prone to landslip [albeit in slightly different locations, and with more impactful outcomes] they use metal mesh to 'hold' ground in place. I expect that would be a sledgehammer and nut scenario for your problem though.
I hope you get a good result. Let us know what happens over the next 6 months or so.