Light at the end of the tunnel

On a walk down our local lane we were aghast that all the blackberry bushes lining the lane were either cut right back or pulled out - in any event they were missing! Last year, along with many other people, we collected pounds of fruit but looks as if we shall have to hunt further afield this year.
We are at a loss to know what or who benefits from this tidying of the hedgerow.
The blip is a little wooded area just off the lane.