Hedgerows Ireland: Unnecessary confusion about hedge cutting laws
Hedgerows Ireland secretary Alan Moore has claimed that every year there is "unnecessary confusion" with the laws surrounding hedge cutting.
Moore said he wanted "to set the record straight' and pointed to Section 70 of the 1993 Roads Act, which outlines that landowners can trim roadside hedges if visibility is compromised as a matter of public safety.
Moore said: "We would however ask contractors to take a conservative approach to any necessary roadside hedge cutting during the nesting season.
"For example, side trimming only, and to delay cutting where visibility is not an issue until after September 1."
Moore stated that the reasons behind the hedge cutting restrictions are twofold - first of all a great number of birds nest within hedgerows throughout the summer.
He second secondly that birds "also use them for feeding as uncut hedges create shelter and provide food - insects, berries etc - for newly hatched chicks."
Separately the Co. Donegal senator, Manus Boyle also raised the matter as an Order of Business in the Seanad and warned that "rural roads are closing all around the rural counties of Ireland".
The Fine Gael senator added: "The farmers are brilliant, with 99% of them cutting their hedges when they need to be cut and looking after them well."
However, the senator also said that there are some landowners who are not doing it, saying that many people are away doing other jobs when hedges are in need of trimming.
Senator Boyle said since he was elected in June of last year, he has been 'inundated' with constituents ringing him about dangerous hedges on rural roads, especially at junctions.
He added that, during the silage season; "Big tractors are going out onto roads, coming out of farm gates where hedges need to be trimmed.
"They have their signs up. I talked to two contractors who had their signs up but people were not looking at the signs when they were coming up because the signs were stuck in the grass."
The senator stated: "They (councilors) say the main roads can be cut if it is dangerous but then when they agree to do it, there is no funding there."
He said he completely agrees with biodiversity but added secondary roads in rural areas are not being cut or trimmed, and added "somebody is going to get hurt."
