Ballyhoura Development CLG has today (July 8) announced that it has been awarded funding under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme for a new community-led initiative aimed at protecting hedgerows.

"Ballyhoura Corridors: Securing Our Future Hedgerows" is a project designed to raise awareness of the role hedgerows play in rural Ireland's landscape.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the important ecological role hedgerows play in supporting biodiversity, wildlife corridors, and sustainable land management in rural Ireland.

The project focuses on both the protection and rejuvenation of hedgerows, which are a key feature of Ireland's cultural and environmental landscape.

As part of the project, two hands-on workshops will be held to provide beginner-level training in the traditional skill of hedge laying.

According to Ballyhoura Development CLG - which is based in east Co. Limerick and north Co. Cork - this method helps restore and strengthen hedgerows, making them stock-proof and promoting their long-term health and growth.

John Scanlan, project lead at Ballyhoura Development CLG said: “Hedge laying is not only a practical conservation tool but also a cultural heritage skill that connects us with generations past.

“Through these workshops, we hope to empower participants to play an active role in protecting biodiversity and the environment.”

The project officially kicks off during National Heritage Week (August 16-24) with a Hedgerow Biodiversity Walk.

A guided walk will take place on Saturday, (August 23) from 11:00a.m to 1:30p.m at Coote Hall, Kilmallock, to highlight the rich biodiversity supported by native hedgerows. 

Ballyhoura Development CLG feels that the Ballyhoura Corridors project reflects their ongoing commitment to sustainable development, rural resilience, and local heritage conservation. 

It said: "The support from the Heritage Council enables this valuable work to be carried out at a community level, securing the environmental legacy of hedgerows for future generations."