Hedge cutting
season comes to an end
26.02.24
WITH 2024 being a leap
year, landowners have an extra day to cut their
hedgerows before the hedge cutting season comes to an
end on Thursday, 29th of February.
Almost two-thirds of Ireland’s bird species nest in
hedges and these hedgerows provide natural corridors
that permit wildlife to move between habitats. From the
end of February until the end of August, hedge-cutting
is not permitted under the Wildlife Acts which recognise
the importance of conserving hedgerows and other
vegetation for breeding birds, other animals and plants.
Public works involving the disturbance of hedgerows
during this period may only be carried out for reasons
of public health and safety. |
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Under the Wildlife Act, the cutting of hedges
comes to an end on Thursday. |
Hedgerows cover
approximately 1.5% of the land area of Ireland and,
based on a survey commissioned under the County Heritage
Plan, there are 10,408 kilometres of hedgerows in
Donegal. Some of the common native hedgerow species
include ash, hawthorn, blackthorn, willow, rusty and
gorse, whilst other non-native species of cotoneaster,
fuchsia and privet were also recorded.
If you would like to find out more about the wise
management of hedgerows, The Heritage Council has
produced booklets with advice on best conservation
practice and planting native species. Copies of the
booklets entitled Conserving Hedgerows and Hedgerows for
Pollinators are available free of charge from the
Heritage Office on 074 91 7 2576 or by email at
heritage@donegalcoco.ie . |
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