HEDGEROWS AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES

Early day motion 483, tabled 7 March 2000 by Desmond Turner (Labour). Signed by 94 members.

That this House recognises that the local diversity of landscape features is central to the character and landscape of the English countryside; welcomes the Government's commitment to the need for stronger protection for England's hedgerows and its recognition that protection for other landscape features should be introduced as soon as evidence shows that it is needed; and urges the Government to use the opportunity provided by the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill to deliver on these commitments to protect the nation's rich and varied countryside by giving local authorities discretion and flexibility to determine which hedgerows are important locally, redefining what constitutes a hedgerow to cover all features known locally as hedges and enabling the Government to extend protection to all landscape features.

Signatures by party: Labour 71, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour/Co-operative 7, Conservative 4, UUP 2.