Hedge-Cutting

jonnreeks

Hi,

According to Bird Watch Ireland, Under the Wildlife Acts, it is against the law to cut, burn or otherwise destroy vegetation including hedges between 1st March and 31st August, The ban on hedge-cutting applies to private gardens as much as it does to farms and the wider countryside.

If you witness hedge-cutting between these dates please report it to the local Gardaí and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). You can find contact details for your local NPWS Wildlife Ranger here. This helps to encourage that the hedge-cutting ban is enforced and kept in place in the future.

The reason for the hedge-cutting ban is to stop disturbance and destruction of nesting sites of many of our wild bird species. The nesting season for most of our garden and countryside birds begins in March and will continue through the summer months. Our hedges provide a safe space for many birds to nest and an ample food supply for parents and chicks. They are also critical for a range of other invertebrates and mammals, including people

https://birdwatchireland.ie/faq/when-is-hedge-cutting-prohibited-in-ireland/

Just curious to know if anyone adheres to this ruling and if so have you or would you report it to your local Gardaí or local NPWS Wildlife on a neighbour!

😯

The Continental Op

I called (NPWS) to report hedge cutting locally and was told that hedge cutting around the environs of a house was allowed?

Did get the warden out though as he was on his way past the area anyway but that was just luck what he did I've no idea.

Hooked

I'll be cutting my hedges this weekend and the bank holiday weekend. And I think we've enough going on in our lives without ratting out our neighbours for keeping their property in order. And the Guards sure as shiiit have better things to be doing.

Jim_Hodge

Birdwatch Ireland have a different interpretation to every other body.

Gardens are NOT included

There are a number of exemptions to the ban, including the summertime trimming of hedges "in the ordinary course of gardening" and the cutting of roadside hedges to prevent obstruction of drivers.

There are separate laws regarding the destruction of nests or disturbance of nesting birds.

elperello

There is an exemption for roadside hedges in the interests of road safety.

For gardens a light trim with hedge cutter or hand shears is ok.

yagan

Sounds like a load of nonsense. I'll be trimming my hedges this weekend.

secman

I've trimmed my back hedge, hope to do side one over next 2 weekends. Neighbour farmer wasn't able to the contractor in before 1st March due to waterlogged fields ,so I've to tend to them myself this year. Farmer was only able to get road frontage hedges trimmed before 1st March.

Rows Grower

Lidl are doing a lovely little hedge shears for a fiver, had one in my hand and then thought about the petrol, electric and battery ones I have as well as 3 pairs of hand shears that just need a sharpen so I put it back.

Great value though if anyone is on the lookout for one.

893bet

I am trimming my garden hedge the weekend aswell OP.

You should buy a few acres and let them go wild; be better time spent than pontificating on the internet.

User567363

I cut an entire hedge at the butt in september last year, still trying to get it to burn, i'd say neighbours are sick of looking at the pile of scrap.

User567363

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122063511#Comment_122063511

Does any nature/bird watching club ever buy/rent land like suggested?

nigeldaniel

As mentioned it's mainly farmers and landowners that the hedge cutting is about. (Large scale and heavy cutting back) Wildlife do live in hawthorns and furze bushes by the bus load.

Discodog

The law does not apply to Horticulture - so cutting of garden hedges is exempt.

OP where did you get this part from as it's wrong ?

"The ban on hedge-cutting applies to private gardens as much as it does to farms and the wider countryside."

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122069315#Comment_122069315

Try googling the regs its hard to find anything different to what the OP states (and provides a link).

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122069332#Comment_122069332

From the department

The prohibition outlined above does not apply (unless done by burning) in a number of circumstances set out in the Act. For businesses, landowners and the general public the most notable of these exemptions are:

The destruction, in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, of any vegetation growing on or in any hedge or ditch. In the Act, “agriculture” is defined as including horticulture. Since horticulture includes gardening, the summertime trimming of hedges in the ordinary course of gardening falls under this exemption;

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f5cd9-reminder-on-hedge-cutting-and-the-law/

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058348824/hedge-cutting

Birdwatch Ireland are totally incorrect.

They should withdraw that as nosey "do-gooders" will aggressively complain about people cutting hedges in their gardens.

There is no restriction whatsoever on cutting garden hedges in any manner you wish.

There is not even a restriction on destroying a garden hedge if you want to.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122063730#Comment_122063730

Birdwatch, IPCC and An Taisce all have a small number of properties that are managed in the interests of conservation and to protect wildlife.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122069380#Comment_122069380

Just a bit of a trim in the nesting season and put the chainsaw away until the leaves fall and all will be well.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122063730#Comment_122063730

not so much 'clubs' but several NGOs and other organisations own or operate nature reserves - a lot would be focused on woodlands, but as elperello mentioned, the IPCC run several reserves on bogs, and birdwatch obviously focus on bird habitat.

Discodog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122069380#Comment_122069380

I am a big supporter of wildlife & birdwatch but sayings it's illegal is just wrong. I am involved in horticulture & I would always carefully check a hedge for nests before cutting it.

Samson1

This nonsense starts every year. There is no ban, and it is perfectly legal to cut domestic hedges around your private house.

It is clear these comments were not added to the existing thread from last year where the law on the matter was clearly thrashed out.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122069400#Comment_122069400

absolutely - I actually prefer the rough look so it will be late august/early sept before I do a trim. But I just despise these local nosey busy bodies who become "hedge police" and think they can bully people and threaten people. So the more people know that you can 100% cut a garden hedge at any time of the year and you are NOT in anyway whatsoever breaking any law, the better.

And those who like to be "hedge police" - go back into hibernation.

So to be clear.

You CAN 100% cut domestic hedges at ANY time of the year.

yagan

Surely if the original poster also posted on last year's thread of the same topic then they'd know not to regurgitate a lie, and should face a forum ban for trolling?