Pictured at the launch of National Hedgerow Week at the Farmland Biodiversity Event in Birr Castle today (Wedesday) were, from left to right, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc; Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist; Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity in the Department of Agriculture; Catherine Casey, Head of Climate Change, The Heritage Council; and Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive Officer, The Heritage Council. Photo: Paul Moore Photography.

National Hedgerow Week launched at Birr Castle event

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Offaly Minister of State Pippa Hackett today (Wednesday) launched National Hedgerow Week 2024 durinh an event in Birr Castle.

National Hedgerow Week, which is jointly coordinated by Teagasc and the Heritage Council, is an initiative highlighting the value of hedgerows in our landscapes and it provides an opportunity for farmers, ecologists and the public to celebrate the versatility of our hedges.

The week's programme of free events, taking place between Friday, August 30, and Friday, September 6, are focused on how to plant and manage hedgerows to maximise the benefits for biodiversity, climate and farmers.

Specialists from Teagasc and the Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Network will be on site at five Teagasc farms across the four provinces, where demonstrations of new Topped hedges and Treeline hedges have been established over the past 3 years to show Best Practice hedge management.

The launch event for National Hedgerow Week 2024, in Birr Castle, included talks on farmland biodiversity from a range of speakers including naturalist, author and broadcaster Éanna Ní Lamhna, Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science in UCD, Helen Sheridan, and Birr-based author, ecologist and geologist, John Feehan.

The collaborative ethos of Hedgerow Week was also reflected by the presence at the event of representatives from ACRES Leinster; the All Ireland Pollinator Plan; Farm Peat EIP; Farming for Water EIP; Inland Fisheries Ireland; LIFE on Machair; Local Authorities Water Programme; National Biodiversity Data Centre; the Heritage Council and Local Authority Biodiversity Officers.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, said: "Teagasc and the Heritage Council have organised a great programme of events to celebrate National Hedgerow Week, both online and in person, and I would strongly encourage farmers to get involved.

"Hedgerows are in many ways the lifeblood of our countryside, offering sanctuary to wildlife, improving soil health, and connecting fragmented habitats.

"By caring for and protecting our hedgerows, we can safeguard the natural heritage that defines our rural communities as well as delivering for carbon sequestration, soil health, water quality and biodiversity."

A full list of events taking place throughout the country for National Hedgerow Week is available here: www.teagasc.ie/hedgerowweek

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