Hedgerow Week 2022 - "Best Practice Hedge Cutting"

Hedgerow Week 2022 takes place from Friday, 26th August – Friday 2nd September, to coincide with the opening of the hedge cutting season on 1 September. The theme of Hedgerow Week 2022 is 'Best Practice Hedge Cutting' and consists of a series of public in person and virtual events. Find out more

Hedges can be cut from 1 September until the end of February. Hedges should not be cut outside of these dates.

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 will be launched on an episode of the Signpost Webinar Series at 9:30am. The webinar will also focus on Best Practice Hedge Cutting. The webinar will feature guest speaker Dr. Catherine Keena, Countryside Management Specialist, Teagasc. 

Saturday, 27^th August

The Iverk Show takes place on Saturday, 27^th August in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. Teagasc will have a hedgerow exhibit at the Show where attendees will 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 was ran during the planting season in order 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^th September, Hedgerow Week 2022 will come to a close on an episode of the Signpost Webinar Series at 9:30am. The webinar will focus on Hedgerows and Hedgerow Networks Biodiversity. The webinar will feature guest speaker Dr. Françoise Burel, CNRS, Université de Rennes. 

Find our more from Teagasc about  Hedgerows