Jersey in Transition wants to see branchage laws tightened to stop the destruction of wildlife.

It wants to see changes stating that verges and hedges can only be cut back by four inches to protect biodiversity in the island.

The branchage laws have been in place for more than a century, with a group creating guidelines in recent years which have been widely accepted but not universally.

Nigel Jones, the organisation's chairperson, says the law does not state the branchage needs to be clipped back so far that it is killed.

"This has been a problem in Jersey for years now, people cutting back the branchage far too deeply and ending up with bare soil and then the lane and the weather can just wash the banks away, and in the end, we end up with nothing on the side of the road which is worth having."

"These are vital places where the wildlife in Jersey can live."

Jersey in Transition wants to see the legislation 'given teeth' due to concerns about the environment and climate change.

The proposed amendments include:

• At the first branchage of the year, vegetation bordering any road must not be cut back shorter than 10 cm from the soil surface.
• Similarly, the second branchage of the year should follow the same rule, including the top of any banque.
• Any actions taken must also follow the requirements of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021.

Nigel says when wildlife is in a healthy, balanced state it works like an immune system.

"This means that every little insect and every bird, mammal and amphibian that's living in our banques and hedges, and little wild spaces, is really important.

"We have to give them a chance to breed, we have to give them a habitat, and we have to encourage them to be able to repopulate areas where they have literally been wiped out by overzealous countryside management."