Current Hedge work by the new Hedge Laying Association of Ireland, organised by Neil Foulkes, formerly a Crann executive board member.
Hedgerow surveys
As part of their Heritage Plans, in 2004 Westmeath and Roscommon County Councils commissioned county wide Hedgerow Surveys.
The objectives of the surveys were to assess the extent, species composition, construction, structure and management of hedgerows in sample 1 km squares around the county. Further surveys were carried out in 2005 in Counties Laois, Offaly and East Galway.
These surveys are building a picture of the regional variety in Irish hedgerows (Offaly (32%) and Laois (45%) have a high percentage of species-rich hedges) and also highlighting common issues which are potential threats to the resource (a sizeable proportion of hedges in all counties contain significant gaps and lack the dense base structure that is important for wildlife.
The reports produced include recommendations for various stakeholders. Repeating the surveys in a few years time will enable trends to be assessed. All of the surveys were carried out to a standard methodology and full details of the results of the studies for each county can be obtained through the Heritage Office of the relevant County Council.
As part of the (now defunct or inert) Networks for Nature project, initiated by Crann and the Irish Wildlife Trust, a certified training programme was developed by Teagasc for the operators of tractor-mounted hedge cutting machinery. This programme includes health and safety, machine maintenance and environmental best practice. It is being run, on demand, at all of the Teagasc training colleges.
Hedge Laying
- The Hedge Laying Association of Ireland (HLAI) was formed in 2004 to:
- Encourage and facilitate the conservation, protection and appropriate management of hedgerows
- To promote the craft and profession of hedge laying To encourage and facilitate landowners in the management of hedges by laying, where appropriate
- To encourage and train people in the craft of hedge laying
- To establish, maintain and promote recognized standards of craftsmanship in hedge laying
- To research and document the tradition of hedge laying in Ireland
- The Association can be contacted via Email: hedgelayingireland@gmail.com Website: www.hedgelaying.ie
Republic of Ireland: Mark McDowell, 70 Bushes Lane, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Tel: 086 3028790
Northern Ireland: Paul O’Hagan, 1, Brackagh Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, Co. Derry, BT45 7RR Tel: (M)075 91405275
History of Crann hedgerow achievements to date
Crann continues to work closely with the HLAI and in 2008 and 2009 have assisted each other by hosting stands at events throughout the country. At these events we answer queries and help promote the aims of both organisations. We look forward to continuing to work together and sharing resources.
- An educational/training visit to the British National Hedge-laying Championship.
- Hedgerow seminar in conjunction with IWT, Teagasc and Birdwatch Ireland.
- Involvement in the Golden Mile competitions in Leitrim & Tipperary
- Environmental partnership project with Leitrim County Council developing hedgerow conservation policy
- Hedgerow walks
- Training courses on hedge establishment and renovation
- Training event for hedge-cutter operators
- Talks and slide presentations at REPS courses
- Devised basis of a curriculum module in hedge management for Teagasc
- Input into the Department of Agriculture over specifications for the REP scheme
- The design and production of a hedgerow calendar
Crann’s main hedgerow targets still are:
- awareness raising
- education
- hedge planting, laying & management skills: training a nation
- all Ireland hedgerow survey
- hedgerow awareness events featuring demonstrations and training from top British hedgelayers.
Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000
Section 46 of the Act updates Section 40 of the 1976 Act to provide an increased protection period for hedgerows.
It reads: “It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy, during the period beginning on the 1st day of March and ending on the 31st day of August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated”.
“It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch during the period mentioned [above]”.
Exceptions still exist.
If you witness any hedge-cutting (especially mechanical) after the deadline of March 1st, please report it to your local County Council Environmental Awareness Officer.
Threats to hedges
By Neil Foulkes, Hedge Laying Association of Ireland, former executive member of Crann
Hedges are being lost through neglect, ageing and active removal. The declining state of our hedgerow network reflects current agricultural practices and an agricultural labour force that no longer exists.
We don’t have the resources all hedges any more, and many internal boundaries are not managed because they are not accessible to modern hedge cutting machinery. In the absence of rejuvenative management, many hedges simply die of old age.
Many hedges are cut too hard, too often and in the wrong season, Hedge removal is still going on for agricultural reasons and for development purposes, both building and road widening.
Importance of hedgerows
Hedgerows are an important part of our cultural landscape, and a majority of tourists find them the most appealing part of the countryside.
The traditional patchwork-quilt pattern of fields and hedgerows is often regarded as ancient but in fact dates only from the Enclosure Acts of the 19th century. Before then, most of the land was unenclosed commonage. Our oldest hedges mark townland boundaries and are about 200 years old, unlike Britain where hedgerows of 400 years or more exist.
Hedgerows are corridors which aid the movement and dispersal of plants and animals thorough the landscape. They are an essential component of our woodland systems, providing the vital passages that link up Ireland’s small, scattered woodland patches.
It is estimated that hedgerows cover about 1.5% of the land, almost three times the land cover of native woodlands. They are one of the few gene pools remaining of mixed native species.
The protection and maintenance of hedgerows as important landscape features for wild native flora and fauna is required under the EU Habitats Directive.
55 of our 110 rural bird species build their nests in hedgerows.
Some useful publications on Hedgerows
Hedgerow management & nature conservation (ISBN 0 86266 037 8) Ed. Watt & Buckley. Wye College Press (1994). Research papers on all aspects of hedgerows. Excellent book.
Hedging – A practical handbook (ISBN 0 946752 02 8)
Brooks A. Published by BTCV (1975 -revised 2000). Probably the best. All-round book on hedges, planting, laying & conservation.
New hedges for the countryside (ISBN 0 85236 242 0) Maclean Murray. Published by Farming Press books (1992). Excellent on the subject of planting new hedges.
Hedge-laying explained (ISBN 0 9511735 0 2)
Greaves, Valerie. Published by National Hedge-laying Society (UK). Explains the craft of hedge-laying with info on regional styles.
Hedgerow management (ISBN 1 897926 01 4)
Evans, Justin. IOFGA Concise leaflet. Good advice on planting & maintenance. Limited info on rejuvenation.
Wild and free (ISBN 0 7050 0083 4)
O’Ceirin, Cyril and Kit. O’Brien Press (1980). Recipes on hedgerow shrubs and plants. Folklore.
Discovering hedgerows (ISBN 0 563 16528 6)
Streeter & Richardson. Published by BBC (1982). Lots of info on plants and wildlife, beautiful illustrations and photos.
Agri-environmental specifications for REPS 2000
Dept of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (27th November 2000). Outlines the details and requirements of the Rural Environment Protection Schemes. Measure 5 deals with farm and field boundaries.
Birds of Irish farmland
Ed. Murphy, John. Birdwatch Ireland/RSPB Northern Ireland. Info on nature conservation and management. Advice on all types of habitats including hedgerows and woodlands
Trees, hedges and water (ISBN 2 9509837 2 3)
An Taisce. Pan-european booklet outlining the vital role played by hedges and non-forest trees in the environment.
Hedgerow evaluation and grading system (ISBN 0 9520437 0 X)
Clements & Tofts. Countryside Planning & Management (1992). A methodology for the ecological survey, evaluation & grading of hedgerows.
Hedgerow of the World: Their ecological functions in different landscapes (ISBN 09524263 8 2)
Ed. By Barr & Petit. IALE (UK) 2001 Conference proceedings. Research papers from around the world – except Ireland!
List compiled by Neil Foulkes – Hedgerow Consultant with Crann – 2001