Hedge-cutting prohibited until August 31
BirdWatch Ireland is calling on the public to adhere to the laws protecting wild birds, especially during the breeding period, which has already started. The prohibition on the cutting and burning of vegetation begins on March 1 each year and ends on August 31, according to Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended.
BirdWatch Ireland receives numerous calls every year from concerned members of the public over illegal and inappropriate cutting of hedgerows and burning of vegetation during the time when birds are building nests, looking for mates, laying eggs, raising young and completing their breeding cycles. It is important to note that the laws regarding hedge-cutting apply equally to urban and rural environments.
Hedgerows on farmland are hugely important for a range of wildlife, not least birds and insects, and farmers also know that they provide livestock with important shelter. We see the work farmers are doing up and down the country to improve hedgerows for biodiversity, which we warmly welcome.
However, BirdWatch Ireland is alarmed and disappointed to learn that in 2023 one-third of the sanctions issued by the Department of Agriculture to farmers inspected for compliance with the conditions of the Common Agriculture Policy basic income payment was for removal of designated landscape features, cutting of hedges and/or trees during the bird nesting and breeding season and damage to landscape features. To receive CAP basic payments, it is a legal requirement for landscape features to be retained, except in exceptional and limited circumstances. Figures for 2024 sanctions are not yet available from the Department.
Oonagh Duggan, Head of Policy and Advocacy with BirdWatch Ireland, said: “Many farmers are doing their utmost for biodiversity on their farms, but it is really alarming to see that one-third of CAP conditionality sanctions in 2023 were issued for removal of landscape features like hedgerows. We hope that this represents a minority of farmers breaking the law and conditions of the CAP payment, as only 1% of farmers receiving payments are inspected. It is reassuring to see that the Department’s inspection system is picking up these issues and we call on Minister Martin Heydon TD to remind farmers of their legal obligations and their role in protecting biodiversity.
“Hedgerows are hugely important for breeding birds in Ireland, as well as for other creatures. Many species actively nest in hedgerows, while others, such as Barn Owls and bats, use these linear features as corridors to travel along and find prey. They are so important in the Irish landscape”.
Whilst there are exemptions that exist that permit hedge-cutting to take place during the closed/restricted season, BirdWatch Ireland would like to stress that it remains an entirely separate offence under Section 22 of the Wildlife Act 1976 to wilfully destroy, injure, or mutilate the eggs or nest of a wild bird or to wilfully disturb a wild bird on or near a nest containing eggs or unflown young birds at any time of the year.
Burning of vegetation in our uplands can also lead to very serious impacts including loss of life and threats to property as well as devastation of upland habitats and wildlife.