Time to get hedging cut during winter months

CORK County Council has reminded landowners that work should be carried out on hedge cutting while hedges are dormant between now and the end of February next year.

Under the terms of the Roads Act 1993, it is the responsibility of landowners to carry out any necessary tree or hedge cutting where their lands abut the public road or public footpath. 

Raising public awareness of landowners’ obligations, the Council warned that ‘uncut hedges are a serious road safety hazard and are causing substantial damage to vehicles, particularly heavy goods vehicles.’

Landowners are encouraged to protect wildlife and promote biodiversity on all their hedgerows (including non-roadside hedges). The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan recommends that, when hedge cutting, to leave one new whitethorn tree in every routinely-trimmed hedgerow – a strategy to address the decline in bees. 

According to Teagasc, hedgerows are the most important source of flowers in the Irish farmed landscape, but are only of value to pollinators if flowers are present. 

Further details are available on the Council’s website www.corkcoco.ie