Image source: Hedgerows Ireland
A new national organisation, Hedgerows Ireland, is calling for specific legislation to be introduced to protect ‘Ireland’s rainforests’ – native hedgerow.
The group recently met with, and stated its concerns and aims to, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM), Pippa Hackett and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan.
Its message was clear – it wants new legislation in the form of an amendment to the Wildlife Act that will specifically protect hedgerows.
According to the Teagasc Irish hedge map, Ireland is home to approximately 450,000km – or 6.4% of cover – of hedgerows, individual trees and non-forest woodland and scrub.