Analysis: There's much happening underneath the hawthorns as Irish hedgerows carry out a wide variety of vital tasks for our biodiversity
The native hedgerow is one of the more iconic features of Ireland. Found in almost every rural road, farmland and wooded area, it provides a valuable habitat for nature to thrive and even helps absorb carbon. Many date back to the 1700s and 1800s, with some going back as far as the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Today, there is 689,000 km of hedgerow in the country, covering 482,000 hectares, or 6.9% of the total land area in Ireland.
They play a key role in our landscape and culture - featuring heavily in our folklore', but beneath the shrubs lies a rich ecosystem that provides more than just greenery. "They’re a really valuable habitat that carry out a huge number of functions," explained Ivan Kelly, environment specialist for Extensive Farm Systems at Teagasc.
"When we think of what’s in a native hedgerow, birds are there as it provides nesting, feeding, and shelter. Wildlife use it as a nature corridor. We often talk about our road network or electricity grid, but for nature, hedgerows are that network. They’re linking other habitats and providing vital corridors for wildlife to move safely."
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The benefits go further, with hedgerows supporting pollination, mitigating floods, and absorbing carbon. For farmers, they can help provide shelter from wind and rain for their animals, as well as shade from the sun. The knock-on effects of protecting these habitats are vast and depend on a conscious effort to protect Ireland’s hedgerows. Stronger legislation has played a strong role in this. They were designated as landscape features in 2009, giving them stronger protections.
The cutting of hedgerows is prohibited from 1 March to 31 August and may only be done in very limited circumstances, such as for farm or road safety. Much is to protect both nature and its many inhabitants, such as birds with their young, but another one is their long lifespan.
"An existing hedgerow is generally going to be more valuable for biodiversity than any new hedgerow," Kelly says. "Sometimes people think of biodiversity as planting trees or hedgerows and that's a good thing but the hedgerows we have are incredibly valuable. They've been there for years creating complex habitats that support a wide range of species and help connect the wider landscape, but they also need to be managed properly to ensure they continue to provide those benefits into the future."
From RTÉ Archives, Dick Warner wanders along Irish hedgerows in search of food and shows how to cook the fruits of his forage in 1984.
Kelly provides one example involving the most common hedgerow visibly in bloom: the hawthorn or white thorn. This shrub brings major benefits for pollinators in May, thanks to its white flowers providing nectar. During the autumn and winter months, the red haws it produces provide feed for birds. It’s one example of the many roles hedgerows can fulfil at any given time.
"Hedgerows can provide different functions at different times," he added. "Most people want to do the right thing, so it’s increasing that awareness of the magic that goes on behind the scenes, and the great benefits they have."
Public awareness around biodiversity has increased significantly with parks and other public areas dedicating land to nature. Still, while these projects tend to have signage and other features to highlight the work done, hedgerows don’t have that luxury, especially on rural roads. If two cars meet on a narrow country road, it can be stressful finding a place to pull in, but while understandable, the message is that hedgerows will only be cut if there’s a clear risk to drivers.
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From RTÉ Radio 1, how to cut your hedgerow
"Road safety always comes first, which means maintaining good sight lines at junctions and bends, yet the messaging would be that all roadside hedges are not a safety concern," Kelly says. "When we do our training with agricultural contractors, and hedgerow cutting contractors, we ask them to consider nature, and to manage the hedgerow sympathetically.
"When people are considering cutting their roadside hedges, [they should ask if] they need to do that? Is there a way of keeping roads safe and open but also think about all the life in those margins and hedges? It’s not just the hedgerow itself but everything else that goes with it. It’s trying to think of that holistically."
The important point is that such biodiversity efforts have a ripple effect, not just on the environment but also on people’s understanding. The measures they see taken can encourage them to put their own measures in their gardens, community areas, or on farms.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Countrywide, two farmers in Tipperary talk about preserving and expanding the hedges on their farms
Efforts from bodies such as Teagasc, the Heritage Council, Hedgerows Ireland and the National Biodiversity Data Centre coordinate to raise public awareness and highlight the significant role hedgerows play in Ireland’s biodiversity story. There is also a National Hedgerow Week, which is taking place from 28 August to 6 September, putting a spotlight on this particular feature of the Irish countryside.
"Hedgerows are just one part of the biodiversity picture, grass margins, stone walls and other habitats all play their part too." says Kelly. "There are lots of different ways we can help nature and wildlife and do the right thing for biodiversity."
"Most people are positive about biodiversity. They want to do the right thing, and it’s part of our job and others to show them some of the simple, practical measures that can be taken to support the natural world."
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
