Only injury accidents have to be reported ASAP WITHIN 24 hours. That does not mean you have 24 hours to report, it means no later than 24 hours!. However if the police are aware, it has been reported!!! (even if there is no injury).
Unless the hedge is classified as property (or "road furniture", there is not even a damage report to file.
almcd is slightly wrong, The PNC will only show his driver license number if 1) He is known to the police and 2) If known to the police, he volunteered the number to them (compulsory only in driving offences).
Whether he has had a producer or not, the 7 days from midnight of that day issued is fairly discretional PROVIDING you have made eiother the front office clerk at the police station or the Police Officer themselves aware of any possible delay.
On a final note, remember to say the licence has been lost VERY recently. It is an offence to drive without your documents. That is why the Police introduced the 7 day producer form (sometimes called a HORT/1), because to prosecute everbody not carrying their licence, MOT an insurance (and some other forms for different classes, exemptions etc) would be impossible.