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Reminder issued about hedge-cutting ban to protect birds during nesting season

A breach of the Wildlife Act can result in a conviction and fine.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS issued a reminder that hedge-cutting is banned from today until the end of August to protect wildlife during nesting season.

Under the terms of the Wildlife Act, roadside hedge-cutting is only permitted between 1 September and the end of February.

The law aims to protect and maintain wildlife diversity by establishing areas where birds, in particular, can thrive during nesting season. It prohibits cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation.

There are exceptions to the legislation such as works undertaken in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, for public health and safety reasons – including road safety – the destruction of noxious weeds and the development of sites for building works.

An investigation on hedge cutting policy published last week by Noteworthy revealed that at least 3,000km of hedges were cut back by local authorities since 2018 during the prohibited season between March and August.

Nearly all cases were carried out on road safety grounds, however authorities were unable to provide Noteworthy with documents on road safety assessments carried out. 

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Local Government and Housing has said it wants people to be aware of this ban as we move through the spring and summer.

“In Ireland, where there is relatively low cover of native woodland, hedges are of exceptional importance in providing food and shelter and habitats and corridors for maintaining wildlife diversity, particularly for birds, but also for other fauna and for wild plants,” they said.

“Wrens, dunnocks, robins, thrushes and willow warblers as well as many rarer species depend greatly on hedgerow habitats.

“In general, untrimmed, thorned hedgerows containing shrubs such as blackthorn, whitethorn, holly, briars and brambles are favoured by birds as they provide food, shelter, nesting places and protection from predators during the breeding season.”

While it is rare, there have been a number of convictions of people found to have broken this law. Records released to Noteworthy show that the NPWS brought 88 successful prosecutions between 2007 and 2020 for illegal hedge cutting or removal.

Fines, costs and donations to charities totalling just under €58,000 were paid by the guilty parties. In some cases, those convicted were ordered to pay up to €1,000 to conservation groups.

In one case in Westmeath in 2020, two guilty individuals were ordered to make a contribution of €5,000 to a bird conservation project.
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In May 2019, two men in Co Carlow were fined after they were convicted of four offences under the Wildlife Act for hedge cutting out of season.

Carlow District Court saw evidence from the NPWS that one mile of hedgerow vegetation containing the nests of four bird species, including Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren and Wood Pigeon, had been destroyed as a result of their actions. One of the men received a fine of €750, the other was fined €500.

In a separate case that same year, a man in Tipperary was charged with the destruction of vegetation growing in a hedge during the bird nesting season.

Evidence presented to Nenagh District Court showed that just under 1.5 kilometres of hedgerow vegetation had been severely cut back, with a further 137m completely removed during the bird nesting season. The man was issued with a €1,000 fine.

Additional reporting by Niall Sargent of Noteworthy

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23 Comments
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    Mute Kieran Ferrett
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    Jun 23rd 2024, 10:34 PM

    Scotland weren’t Hungary enough

    112
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    Mute Stiles
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    Jun 24th 2024, 12:08 AM

    defo peno.. ref was muck.. hard luck Scotland..

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    Mute Kevin Kennedy
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    Jun 24th 2024, 12:12 AM

    @Stiles: Thanks Johnny

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 24th 2024, 6:28 AM

    @Stiles: Scottish player was pulling Hungarian player by shirt. Both fell.

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    Mute Nodon
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    Jun 24th 2024, 3:27 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: correct and all the pundits ‘missed’ that though it was perfectly obvious in the replays.

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 23rd 2024, 10:21 PM

    What happened Varga? I have seen 3 or 4 replays and can’t see what happened. Good news us that apparently he is OK.

    39
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    Mute Kevin Collins
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    Jun 23rd 2024, 10:24 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Took an elbow to the head and knocked clean out. Hopefully nothing more than concussion.

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    Mute Fergus O'Connor
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    Jun 23rd 2024, 11:06 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: From the still image the keeper caught him with his trailing left arm after punching the ball clear with his right. Could have been a head or neck injury nothing been confirmed other than he’s now stable in hospital.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:59 AM

    @Kevin Collins: any GAA player would have kept playing

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    Mute Helen McKernan
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    Jun 24th 2024, 12:34 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: broken bones in his face & eye socket & bad concussion aparently.good to see hes awake though and stable in hospital.was scary enough watching can only imagine how frightened his family were. Speedy recovery!

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    Mute damien leen
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    Jun 24th 2024, 3:24 AM

    0 shots on target…again! Says it all.

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    Mute Ann Nugent
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    Jun 24th 2024, 1:37 AM

    Hard luck Scotland ,from Ireland ,we Celts. Xxx When you know you know. X

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    Mute Christopher Fealy
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    Jun 24th 2024, 6:43 AM

    @Ann Nugent: no way hard luck. DEFINITELY DELIGHTED SCOTLAND GONE..DONT FORGET THEM AND WALES VOTED FOR FRANCE TO HOLD RUGBY WORLD CUP LAST YEAR . TOOK THE BIG FAT BROWN ENVELOPE. AT LEAST ENGLAND

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jun 24th 2024, 7:23 AM

    @Christopher Fealy what a strange comment,a dub obviously

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:35 AM

    @Christopher Fealy: At least England………….. what?

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:39 AM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Voted for us…he has a point.

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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:50 AM

    @sean weir: Don’t worry bog warrior.

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jun 24th 2024, 7:20 AM

    Any one but ENGLAND ,and that was definitely a penalty for Scotland

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jun 24th 2024, 8:31 AM

    @sean weir: I looked this morning expecting to see a stonewall penalty after ready all the comments. Not a penalty, the scot player manhandled him.

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    Mute reg morrisey
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:02 AM

    Definitely a penalty. Ref needs glasses.

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:36 AM

    @reg morrisey: Scottish player pulled him. Both fell.

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    Mute Michael o Dwyer
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    Jun 24th 2024, 9:44 AM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: it was definitely a penno. Caught the Scottish player with his knee before. I’ve seen pennos given for a lot less

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jun 24th 2024, 5:17 AM

    I suppose you’re wondering what’s under me kilt!!!

    7
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