It is estimated that hedgerows cover approximately 1.5% of the land area of Ireland.
The closed season on hedge-cutting, adopted under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, recognises the importance of conserving hedgerows.
Here we explain the law that imposes a ban on hedge cutting and burning from 1st March to 31st August.
Why are hedgerows so important?
"Hedgerows in Ireland form important features in maintaining wildlife diversity and in establishing wildlife "corridors", particularly for birds," says RTÉ Nature presenter Derek Mooney.
"The commonest nesting birds found in hedgerows such as wrens, dunnocks, robin and willow warblers depend entirely on insects during the Summer months. In general untrimmed, thorned hedgerows containing species such as blackthorn, whitethorn and holly are favoured by birds as they provide ample food and also serve as a protection against predators".
What sort of plants and animals would you find in a native hedgerow?
Beetles, woodlice, centipedes, shrews, field mice, millipedes, wrens, dunnocks and blackbirds can be found in the bottom. Robins and finches will inhabit the middle berth; spiders and Thrushes and Tits will favour the top.
Along the edges butterflies and bees will seek nectar during the day and at night bats will do likewise.
A typical hedge might have the following plants:
Hawthorn-55%
Holly-5%
Hazel-5%
Blackthorn-10%
Elderberry-5%
Honeysuckle-2%
Wild Roses-4%
Ivy-2%
Bramble-2%
Trees such as rowan, crab apple, silver birch, aspen and wych elm could make up the last 10% of the hedgerow.
What times of year can you cut hedgerows?
It is an offence to 'cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy hedgerows on uncultivated land during the nesting season from 1 March to 31 August, subject to certain exceptions'.
What is the law?
Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended by Section 46 of the 2000 Act, provides protection for hedgerows by providing that it shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy hedgerows on uncultivated land during the nesting season from 1 March to 31 August, subject to certain exceptions. It is important that, where possible, necessary work to hedgerows is carried out outside this period.
It is possible in most cases to schedule and carry out necessary work to hedgerows outside this period. The legislation makes provision for works (other than road or other construction works) to be carried out for reasons of public health and safety under the authority of any Minister or a body established by statute that lead to the destruction of vegetation. There is also a provision to enable the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government to request from the relevant Minister or body details of any such works together with a statement of the public health and safety factors involved.
It shall not be an offence to destroy vegetation in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry. Also it shall not be illegal to destroy vegetation while preparing or clearing a site for lawful building or construction works.
It is the policy of the Minister to prosecute for offences under section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000 and successful prosecutions have been taken under this section in recent years. Members of the public are encouraged to contact their local wildlife ranger and report instances where hedgerows are being destroyed during the prohibited period.
Are there times that the closed season is not adhered to?
Oonagh Duggan, Assistant Head of Policy and Advocacy of BirdWatch Ireland, explained: "Last year thousands of hectares of mountain, hill, bog and forest habitat were destroyed during the closed season, incinerating the wildlife that cannot escape fast enough, including helpless chicks in their nests, or animals which find themselves caught between flames and fences. Our wildlife deserves better than this. While this winter has been wet making land management difficult for farmers during the open period for burning, other solutions must be sought to benefit wildlife and farmers".
What should you do if you see someone breaking the closed season?
The Irish Wildlife Trust have appealed to the public to report illegal hedge cutting instances to Garda and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
For more on this tune into Mooney Goes Wild, Sunday 11th March from 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1
