Farmers need to be weaned off their fixation with cutting hedges to the point that they are practically redundant from a biodiversity and climate change perspective, according to a Teagasc environmental specialist.
Catherine Keena of Teagasc maintained that farmers are positively disposed to the idea of developing living hedges.
However, she claimed landowners were confused by the mixed messages they are receiving on hedgerow maintenance.
The countryside management specialist said many farmers believed that there was a requirement on them to cut hedges. Keena said a major change in mindset is needed at both farmer and advisory level to protect the country’s existing hedgerows.
“Think before cutting hedges this autumn, is the message we are promoting,” said Keena.
She encouraged farmers to ask themselves why each hedge is being cut, and what they want their hedges to look like in five or 10 years’ time.
Ahead of National Hedgerow Week, which kicks off this Friday 29 August, Keena challenged farmers to allow at least half their hedges develop into treeline hedges. She pointed out that these treeline hedges are living hedges, where the tree canopy is “full of flowers and fruit”.
In relation to topped hedges, Keena called on farmers to retain one clump of saplings from within each hedge this autumn, that in a short time will grow into a flowering tree which can provide flowers and fruit for birds and insects.
Ireland has around 690,000km of hedgerows in various states of health. These hedges play a crucial role in sequestering and storing carbon, providing shelter for livestock, a habitat for wildlife, and serving as vital corridors for biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Teagasc is hosting a hedge-cutting event in Kildalton College next Thursday, 4 September. The event will feature hedge cutting machinery and its operation, as well as machine setup.
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