Hedge cutting exemptions

Introduction

Ireland has many hedges (or hedgerows), usually found around the edges of fields, land boundaries, or by the sides of roads. These hedges are natural habitats for animals and can provide food and shelter for them, especially birds.

Other benefits of having hedgerows include the following:

• Providing food for insects (such as nectar for bees)
• Creating wildlife corridors
• Storing carbon
• Helping to mitigate fertilizer run off

There are rules around what time of year you can cut hedges in Ireland.

This is to stop people cutting hedges during bird nesting season and to give birds a chance to nest safely and to raise their young.

Other species which rely on hedges include:

• Badgers
• Owls
• Hedgehogs
• Stoats
• Butterflies

When can I cut my hedges?

You can cut hedges between 1 September and the end of February.

Tree cutting season ireland

It is illegal to cut hedges between 1 March and 31 August. This includes:

• Cutting
• Grubbing (digging or excavating)
• Burning
• Destroying

Some exceptions to this rule apply to businesses, landowners and the public.

These include:

• D
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  when is it ok to cut hedges in ireland