How do you cope with a large hedge?

We too have a long hedge that separates us from our neighbours. Their garden is a jungle. We have the hedge cut twice a year. February and October / November. Never during nesting time. As this is the time when the hedge grows most, it looks untidy. We just have to live with it until the autumn.

I haave a neighbour who kindly attends to my hedges, and the one I have that sounds much like yours OP is severely cut back in the early autumn.

You’re not supposed to cut hedges between March 1st and August 31st as birds nest during that time and it is an offence to disturb them under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

That act makes it "an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the active nest of any wild bird", and hedgerow management rules apply to agricultural land, not domestic hedges.
Obviously, if you know there are birds actually nesting, you may not want to disturb them.

I really am not sure if there is a rule that states that hedges should not be above a certain height but if there is then a search on the internet should state it somewhere.

I have a mixed species hedge that runs along the outside of my garden wall (which is my boundary). It was part of the original landscaping for the estate. Because it borders the pavement, the council make it my responsibility to keep it cut back. They send me letters threatening me with legal action. Last year, I wrote back and told them where they could put their letter and so this year, having had their fill of feisty old ladies, they have sent it to my young neighbour, though it’s nothing to do with him! Most of it is pyracantha which is in full flower at the moment and it also serves as a sort of sparrow terrace. The council don’t seem to be concerned about the birds. GS cut it at Easter, but the rain has accelerated its growth. The best I can give it is a very light trim and that will have to do. If anyone wants to send me a cake with a file in it (or even a file with a cake in it)……..

My beech boundary hedge is very happy and after 8 years since planting, is now taller than my cherry blossom trees. I just trim it inside my garden to keep maximum space and let the outside do its thing. Height wise, I only trim back around the blossom trees to allow them light to flower. I like my privacy as I look onto a private car park.