The closed period for hedge-cutting begins on 1 March and will remain in place until 31 August, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed.

There are some exemptions from the seasonal hedge cutting ban for works undertaken in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, and for public health and safety reasons.

Legislation allows both landowners and public authorities to address hedges for road safety reasons at any time of the year.

Burning dates

Meanwhile, IFA national hill farming chair Flor McCarthy has called on the Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan to allow managed burning of gorse in March due to recent wet weather.

He said a month’s extension would “address better vegetative management, help farmers keep land eligible for various CAP schemes, and reduce uncontrolled wildfires”.