Cornwall councillors will be asked to back calls for developers not to place nets over hedgerows which prevent birds from nesting.

A motion will go to Tuesday’s full council meeting which is looking to ban the use of nets of hedgerows.

Sam Tamlin, the Liberal Democrat councillor behind the motion, said he was not aware of nets having been used in Cornwall but the issue had been highlighted elsewhere in the country.

He said he hoped that by passing the motion the council could prevent the introduction of netting.

“As far as I am aware there have not been any incidents here so I am doing this as a pre-emptive strike,” the Saltash West councillor said.

“We do not have any control over it and it isn’t illegal but we want to make sure it doesn’t start happening here in Cornwall.”

Developers have been reported elsewhere in the country putting nets over trees and hedges to prevent birds from nesting near their development sites.

Campaigners have been battling to get nets removed and a petition has been submitted to Parliament calling for the practice to be made illegal.

The recommendation which will go to Cornwall Council on Tuesday reads: “Council is greatly concerned by the growing trend in this country of developers using netting on trees and hedgerows to prevent birds nesting. This poses a serious threat to declining species of birds and presents a danger

of entrapment to wildlife. It also produces large amounts of unnecessary plastic waste.”

It recommends that the council contact all developers in the county to tell them that netting is contrary to the council’s environmental growth strategy and the council’s work with Cornwall Wildlife Trust to adopt Building with Nature standards.

Developers are also being called on to make a commitment that netting will not be used in Cornwall.

It also suggests writing to the Government calling for a ban on netting on trees and hedgerows.

Cllr Tamlin added: “This cruel practice is happening across the country especially now around spring time when birds are building their nests. In many cases developers put netting up well before they apply for planning permission and so by the time local councils find out about it it’s too late.

“Cornwall Council has a long, established record of promoting

environmental growth and protecting wildlife habitats through consistent and compatible policies. ‘Netting’ poses a serious threat to declining species of birds and presents a danger of entrapment to wildlife.”

Cornwall Council is set to meet on Tuesday when the motion will be put forward by Cllr Tamlin.