In England, this ban only applies to hedgerows around fields, not in gardens, although in Ireland it does apply to garden hedges as well.
If you read this information on Twitter as I did, there is a comment below the cartoon picture saying this. I was confused to did some research on the RSPB website and other places and found that it is a recommendation not to cut garden hedges during the bird nesting season, it is not law. It is however unlawful to deliberately destroy a nest anytime.
This is a quote from Suffolk Police earlier this month.
"We always, without exception, get reports from people complaining about people cutting their hedges, saying: 'You can't cut your hedge now, the birds are nesting,' but that's not the case. It's not law.
"The issue is when the birds are nesting, once a bird's nest is active, they are protected by law. If it's accidental, say you are moving something in your garden and you stumble across a bird's nest and disturb it, that is not intentional and not illegal.”
Obviously it is best not to cut garden hedges with active nests in but you are not breaking the law as long as you do not harm the birds or their nests.