Hedgerow Week

26^th August - 2^nd September 2022

Best Practice Hedge Cutting

The theme of Hedgerow Week 2022 is 'Best Practice Hedge Cutting'. Hedgerow Week 2022 consists of a series of public in person and virtual events.

Hedgerow Week 2022 takes place from Friday, 26^th August – Friday 2^nd September, to coincide with the opening of the hedge cutting season on 1 September.

See details of the events taking place throughout the week below.

Programme of Events

Friday, 26^th August | 9:30am - 10:30am

On Friday, 26^th August, Hedgerow Week 2022 was launched by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett on an episode of the Signpost Webinar Series at 9:30am. The webinar also focused on Best Practice Hedge Cutting with guest speaker Dr. Catherine Keena, Countryside Management Specialist, Teagasc. 

Saturday, 27^th August

The Iverk Show took place on Saturday, 27^th August in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. Teagasc had a hedgerow exhibit at the Show where attendees had the opportunity to see Topped and Escaped hedges as well as a Growing Wild display.

Hedgerow management is coming increasingly important due to their role in biodiversity and carbon and their poor condition.

Monday, 29^th August

A New Farm Hedge competition took place during the planting season to highlight the good work of farmers planting hedges. On Monday, 29^th August, the winner of the competition will be announced. The winner of the competition will receive a roll of compostable film for weed control in newly planted hedges – sponsored by Maizetech.

Tuesday, 30^th August | 10am

The Farming for a Better Future - Technologies for Today & Tomorrow Open Day takes place on Tuesday, 30^th August in Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. There will be a Wildlife exhibit at the event which will give an insight into the fauna in individual habitats. There will also be a Hedgerow and Growing Wild display. 

Wednesday, 31^st August | 11am

Join us on Wednesday, 31^st August at 11am for a Hedgerows of Kilkenny City Walk and Talk. The walk, organised by Nore Vision, will have valuable information, promoting the value of Kilkenny’s hedgerows. Learn about hedge food foraging and the ecosystems they support and provide! The meeting point is Bishops Meadow Swimming Point. 

Thursday, 1^st September | 11am

On Thursday, 1^st September at 11am, join us in Gurteen Agricultural College,Ballingarry, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, E53 TP93 for a Best Practice Hedge Cutting event. There will be live demonstrations from contractors who will highlight the best practice in hedge cutting.

Hedgerow management is coming increasingly important due to the role that they play in biodiversity and carbon. College farms can play a leading role in Best practice.

The demonstrations will show: 

• Coppicing upside –down toilet-brush hedges
• Retaining thorn saplings in a Topped hedge when hedge cutting
• Using compostable film to develop a dense base on new hedges

Friday, 2^nd September | 9:30am - 10:30am

On Friday, 2^nd September, Hedgerow Week 2022 came to a close on an episode of the Signpost Webinar Series at 9:30am. The webinar focused on Hedgerows and Hedgerow Networks Biodiversity. The webinar featured guest speaker Dr. Françoise Burel, CNRS, Université de Rennes.