HEDGES  AND  DITCHES diagram: hedge and ditch


    If it is not clearly stated in your deeds or title documents, there is a legal presumption that where two properties are divided by a hedge and a ditch, the property boundary is presumed to be on the opposite edge of the ditch from the hedge. This is based on the principle that the owner would have stood on the boundary facing toward his own land, dug the ditch on his own land, piled the spoil on his home side to form a bank, and planted a hedge on the bank.

    There are exceptions that might override this legal presumption, such as when the land (strictly speaking, only part of it) is subsequently sold and the conveyance and/or plan specifically refers to the line shown on the Ordnance Survey map (usually the hedge atop the bank).


What you should do
If you are in any doubt, consult a chartered land surveyor (e-mail me) .

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This page was last updated on 22 February 2001

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The information given on this web site is of necessity of a very general nature and cannot be relied upon to meet your specific requirements. Jon Maynard FRICS cannot be held responsible for any action that may or may not be taken by anyone who accesses this site and acts upon any information found within. Whilst I hope that you may gain benefit from the information in this site, my liability can only extend to specific advice given by me after completion of a formal engagement letter.